Town of Fort Frances Councillor Douglas Judson resigned from all municipal committee meetings over time constraint concerns.
Judson said his decision comes after being appointed chair of the Federation of Ontario Law Association (FOLA) on March 25. FOLA is a provincial organization that represents 46 local law associations. He was previously vice-chair. The executive meets monthly, and the association presidents and members meet twice a year, as stated on the FOLA’s website.
Judson said the increased demand for his time means he will no longer be able to be available for municipal meetings during the business day. Judson said he is retaining his seat on the council.
Judson sits on the Planning and Development Executive Committee, the Administration and Finance Executive Committee and the Economic Development Executive Committee.
“In reaching this decision, I have been disappointed in recent actions to restrict the ability of council members to place business before committees and to defer to staff on matters of significant community interest,” Judson wrote in the letter sent to the mayor and council yesterday.
In the letter, Judson also said he is “troubled” by alleged efforts to obstruct his participation. As the only council member in the workforce, Judson said he is no longer available during the business day. He further explained in a tweet that “council refuses to make basic changes to accommodate the participation of working-age people in its proceedings. As the only member in the workforce, I am simply no longer available during the business day.”
“In these circumstances, I can no longer justify the significant disruption to my workday caused by these committees,” Judson added in the letter. “I can just as effectively advance the goals and aspirations of my constituents during our regular Monday evening council meeting.”
Judson said he believes he is more effective at serving the community through his other roles. Judson has a legal practice in Fort Frances, serves as the Rainy River District Law Association president, and sits on the boards of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, the Northwest Community Legal Clinic, and Borderland Pride.
