New council sworn into office

About 50 residents showed up at the Civic Centre last night to see the new mayor and council of Fort Frances sworn in.
Justice of the Peace Pat Clysdale- Cornell had Mayor Dan Onichuk, and Couns. Roy Avis, Tannis Drysdale, Struchan Gilson, Todd Hamilton, Neil Kabel, and Rick Wiedenhoeft make the Declaration of Elected Office and Oath of Allegiance.
Mayor Onichuk then gave his inaugural address.
“I plan to keep it short, because we plan to start business at 7:30 tomorrow morning I’m told,” he told the packed council chamber.
“First of all, I’d like to thank the residents of Fort Frances who have given me the opportunity to lead our community into the future,” he said. “For those that did not vote for me at all, who voted [Mrs.] Tibbs, I will work hard to gain your respect and represent all residents equally.
“I believe that Fort Frances has a bright future, given the community’s spirit and active participation we’ve experienced in the past,” he added. “I hope that spirit, and new ideas, will continue, and I will assure you that those people involved will be recognized for their efforts.
“We will open the doors and welcome all ideas and opinions. From my perspective, the town hall is the people’s hall,” he pledged. “I will be active in encouraging all organizations to bring forth ideas, and will specifically encourage our youth to get involved in all aspects of the community.”^Mayor Onichuk noted he’s recently spoken with municipal leaders from across the region, as well as elected officials at both the provincial and federal levels, and plans to keep in touch with them and “foster better communication” to “ensure our voice is heard at all levels of government.”^“The people of Fort Frances voted for change, and I believe that they have given me and our new team a mandate in support of my platform,” he remarked.
“We will work quickly to finalize a new budget, and deal with a long list of outstanding issues, old and new, facing council. But we will do so after the residents of Fort Frances have been given a chance to voice their opinions,” stressed the mayor.
“I thank you for the opportunity you’ve given me. I humbly accept the responsibility you’ve placed upon me,” he concluded.
A motion then was passed to appoint Coun. Kabel as deputy mayor.
Coun. Gilson will serve as the first chair of the committee of the whole, with Coun. Drysdale to be the vice-chair.
The chair of the committee rotates on a six-month basis.
The new council was piped in and out of Council Chambers by Dr. Bruce Lidkea of the Fort Frances Highlanders, and led in and out by the OPP Colour Party, Fort Frances S/Sgt. Hugh Dennis, and an RCMP officer.
Pastor Stephen Laing, who had been a candidate for council in last month’s election, did the convocation.
Guests included Crown Attorney Robert “Buster” Young, Forch Mauro of town auditor BDO Dunwoody, and town solicitor Wes Derksen.
Centennial co-ordinator Marla Simpson and Krystal Maki, representing the FFHS student executive council, also were on hand last night to give Mayor Onichuk and Coun. Kabel a “time capsule.”^This box of goods included a map of the town, a high school yearbook and other Muskie paraphernalia, photos of the centennial year activities, and more.
This time capsule will be placed beneath the fountain in the foyer at the Civic Centre.
The fountain was a centennial renovation done there this past spring.
The meeting was adjourned by 7:45 p.m. Dainties and coffee were served afterwards downstairs at the Civic Centre.
As reported in yesterday’s Daily Bulletin, the new council will hold its first two regular meetings backto- back on Monday, Dec. 8 and Monday, Dec. 15 (the latter being moved up a week due to the Christmas holidays).
The first two meetings of 2004 are slated for Monday, Jan. 14 and Monday, Jan. 27.