Next Council to make decision on renumeration increase

October 30, 2014 · 0 Comments

A discussion ensued at Council October 20th regarding the recommended increase to Councillors remuneration by Ward & Uptigrove Consulting and Human Resources in September. The by-law to accept the recommended increase has passed first reading only; the second reading is to be held in November giving Council time to receive public input from the election debate. The issue discussed Monday night was centered on clarifying the timing for the third and final reading – if passed the increase would then come into effect. The minutes of the last Council meeting, October 6th documented the Council’s discussion decision to hold the third reading in December.
Councillor Tom Egan looked for some clarification on the wording of the decision in reference to the October 6th Council minutes. He said it was his understanding, that the last time there had been increases – outgoing Council set the rates for the new incoming Council. Councillor Cavey was in accordance with Egan, but also commented that “it was not an issue last time.”
Mayor Ed Crewson said he “did not want it to be said that this Council set the rate for an incoming Council which may not think it appropriate. My preference would be to leave it” – but he noted that the decision must follow the will of Council.
In reference to previous discussions on the matter, and the wording in the October 6th minutes, Chief Administrative Officer John Telfer, said “I think the intent of the motion is correct.” The decision stood to leave the third and final reading until December when the new Council will be sitting.Bennington becomes Mayor

By Marni Walsh

Shelburne’s Deputy Mayor Ken Bennington has been victorious in his bid to step up to the Mayor’s position after defeating his only opponent Frank E. Hunt Jr. for the job in Monday’s Municipal Election. Deputy Mayor since 2006, Bennington was able to convince voters that he had the experience to do the job over newcomer Hunt, who openly admitted he had no political experience. Although, voters may have lacked the same affectionate confidence in Bennington that they held in their current Mayor, Ed Crewson for 17 years, they voted overwhelmingly to give him the job with 1128 votes out of 1428.

Ken Bennington entered the world of politics at the age of 29 as a Commissioner for Shelburne Hydro in 1998. He was first elected as a Councillor in 2000, and after 2 terms of office, he was elected as Deputy Mayor and is currently finishing his second term in that position. For the past eight years, Mr. Bennington has represented the Town of Shelburne at Dufferin County Council.

The Mayor “to be” told voters during his campaign that he brings years of council experience, passion for the Town, accessibility to his constituents, patience to ensure long term goals, and fiscal responsibility to the job. He has said the biggest challenges the Town will face in the next term will include sewage capacity as the new subdivisions are built out and the Town’s sewage capacity continues to diminish; developing the local economy and the downtown; replacing experienced staff who may retire in the next term; balancing the budget as development slows down; and replacing Ed Crewson as the Town’s Mayor and ambassador.

“As Mayor, he worked tirelessly to promote Shelburne as the ‘best small town in Ontario’ and it will take all of Council to fill that void, myself included,” said Bennington when he decided to run for Mayor after Crewson withdrew his candidacy September 10th. Mayor Crewson realizing he had achieved the goals he set for himself and Council in 2003 decided to move onto new ones; he left the job with the satisfaction of “going out on top.”

Ken Bennington will take on the role of Mayor of Shelburne when the new term of Council begins December 1st. He says his first job will be to “meet with our new Council and gather all the feedback from the community that each candidate has collected throughout their campaign. These comments will be beneficial to all of Council, as we chart our course for the next 4 years.”

By Marni Walsh