Beaver Staff
Six of the seven members of Stone Mills council got an early jump on their oaths of office Tuesday evening.
Shari Milligan, the lone new member taking office Dec. 1 joined reeve Eric Smith, deputy-reeve John Wise, and councillors Doug Davison, Kevin Richmond, and Deb Thompson in taking their seats at the table after being sworn in by Napanee lawyer Bruce Cowle.
Wenda Lalande was unable to attend due to a family emergency and she will take her oath at a later date at her convenience.
Rev. Barbara Mahood, of the Newburgh Centreville Pastoral Charge of the United Church offered scriptural messages and led prayers for the newly elected officials and their families.
“We begin by giving thanks for the many candidates that ran in this past election, for the great interest that was shown in this municipality,” she said. “As only so many could be elected and as these elected officials begin their term of office, we pray for them. We pray for strength and understanding to listen and hear what is being shared by each other and those who serve.”
Mahood called for prayer to ensure the councillors have strength to make decisions after knowing the facts and information necessary to make an informed vote and discernment to see the whole of matters before them.
Following the swearing-in, chief administrative officer and clerk Bryan Brooks took time to alert councillors, friends and family about the business council oversees. In a detailed, 70-slide presentation, he touched on a range of properties, staff, and services.
“There really is a lot to the operation,” he said.
Among the highlights were a fire department with 100 volunteers across four halls, a roads department that maintains 727.46 lane kilometres of township roads and 395.2 lane kilometers of Lennox and Addington County roads and proudly does many of its construction projects in-house, and a building department that has overseen over $13 million in permits over the past year.
He also discussed the current council’s work to employ youth and the value the municipality places on maintaining natural spaces, including three conservation parks it hopes to acquire from Quinte Conservation this year.
Brooks concluded his presentation by welcoming council on behalf of staff.
“From staff and management, we welcome you council, we’re excited to get to work with you,” he said.
Smith thanked staff and guests for attending and welcomed his peers to serves.
“Shari, glad to have you on board and the rest of council. We’ll get down to work here in a couple weeks,” he said.