City councillors expected to formally name new deputy mayor next week
City councillors were back in the chambers Wednesday for this session's first general committee meeting, setting the stage for what the next four years may look like.
On Wednesday, councillors approved on consent Mayor Alex Nuttall's request to appoint two-term Ward 5 councillor Robert Thomson as Deputy Mayor. Former councillor Barry Ward, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor in October's election, had previously held the position.
"My job was to put the person forward who I thought best fit the position, finding somebody who was very good for me, who could really help me with some of my own blind spots but also work on some issues while I'm not around," the mayor told CTV News ahead of the meeting. "I find Robert to be a stabilizing force; I find him to be someone who works very well with his council colleagues."
Councillors also heard from city staff the latest developments of the city's Stormwater Climate Action Fund. An updated brochure for property owners is expected next month, ahead of the final approval of a staff report early in the new year.
Preliminary appointments to various committees, such as the health unit and library boards, were also approved at Wednesday night's meeting. However, Nuttall says those will likely change in the coming weeks after a strategic planning session on December 3, which will outline the main priorities for the current term.
The new mayor says he wants to ensure councillors are assigned to the committees that best suit their interests, backgrounds and the council's goals as a whole.
"Once we get out of that, we'll be able to very quickly make the permanent changes to both the structure of our committees as well as the individuals sitting on those committees to ensure that we are able to meet the requirements of the priorities that are set by your Barrie city council," says Nuttall.
However, the new mayor says the work that lies ahead for this council won't be easy, clarifying comments he made during his inaugural speech last week. He says that the current economic climate and some decisions by the previous council have not necessarily set this council up for success. "I think we have a worsening economy; we have very little to work with in terms of reserve funds," says Nuttall. "When I looked at the per capita reserve funds set aside for the City of Barrie versus others, we are extremely low, and that's going to have an effect on the city going forward, especially with the amount of growth that we're seeing coming here."
When city council meets next Wednesday, final approval is expected for the appointment of Thomson as deputy mayor.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.