PARRY SOUND – Tuesday evening new and returning members of Parry Sound council were sworn in for the 2010-2014 term.
Lead in by local bagpiper Morely MacDonald, with blessings from Reverend Robert Sweet and songs performed by Wasauksing First Nations’ Little Spirit Singers, the new council was welcomed by family, friends and fellow candidates.
In his inaugural speech, Mayor Jamie McGarvey thanked the voters of Parry Sound for their support and said he takes the great honour very seriously when carrying out his duties as mayor.
“One should never forget, that it is the ratepayers of Parry Sound that we work for,” McGarvey said to the packed room. “One of the first things I’d like to see started again is the use of a Customer Care forms that we used to have so inquires can be tracked down for better customer service. I look forward to working with the new council and the new team dynamics that it brings. We have a good group that is ready to get to work and the new council will be kept very busy. We’ve already started a strategic planning process for the next four years, this will be brought forward for public comment in February. For the new members of council, they are being brought up to speed, so that they’re aware of the business at hand and apprised of their responsibility.”
McGarvey said new infrastructure within the town makes the area more pleasing to those that live here and those that want to live here, but said, “we do have to pay our share” by increasing the town’s tax base.
“To secure our financial security, a financial plan will have to be in place to keep us on course. In an effort to bring more transparency and input into the Town of Parry Sound’s operations, there will be some new committees that will be brought forward in the next little while, that will involve more community input related to finance and operations,” he said. “I’m confident that we will succeed and we will have growth – housing and jobs are on the agenda. We will be working closely with existing and new developers and will be working to optimize growth potential in our new Official Plan. Parry Sound has always been and always will be a great place to live, work and play and we are open for business. We have a great town with great neighbours. We will build bridges with our neighbours so that our area will succeed. When one succeeds, we all succeed. There is great opportunity to foster growth that will benefit all of the West Parry Sound Area and it will be those partnerships that will make us stronger and more attractive for new development.”
In closing an emotional McGarvey thanked his wife, Allison and his family for their support and “putting up with me in everything that I have to do.”
Newcomers
Newcomer Coun. Brad Horne said he was “absolutely pumped” to be working for the residents of Parry Sound.
“The community values that I’ve been raised with in the Town of Parry Sound certainly will guide me in my decision making over the next four years,” said Horne. “I’m looking forward to establishing a great team with council and Mayor McGarvey and town staff and the surrounding municipalities in the region.”
Coun. Keith Saulnier said there’s a lot of work ahead to be done.
“I feel the gravity of the trust the townspeople have put on me and it’s a responsibility I’m ready to bear, but my goodness, is there ever a lot of work to do,” said Saulnier. “They just kind of throw you in there and you just have to go for it. I’m going to everything that I can as hard as I can – there’s a lot more to it than I initially thought, absolutely.”
Coun. Dave Williams is excited to see what the next four years will bring.
“As I said through my campaign and at the debate, a lot of credit goes to the past council; they’ve laid a great foundation and I’m excited to start building on the foundation. I think it’s going to be a good four years,” said Williams.
Source; www.cottagecountrynow.ca Stephannie Johnson/Beacon Star
Council’s next meeting is Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.
