Teamwork key to success: Avis

FORT FRANCES—The new council for Fort Frances started its four-year term Monday night after being sworn-in. And in his inaugural address, Mayor Roy Avis made it clear that teamwork will be a necessity for success.
“Tonight, I would like to thank the citizens of Fort Frances for electing me mayor. This is a great honour and I will serve you honesty and integrity,” he said.
“To my elected colleagues—Coun. Albanese, Coun. Drysdale, Coun. Hallikas, Coun Ryan, Coun. Tibbs, and Coun. Wiedenhoeft—congratulations. I know we will develop a team that will move this great community in a direction of stability and great prosperity.
“To administration, I am looking forward to working with you and developing a team approach that will better serve the citizens. We must work together.”
Mayor Avis noted the next four years “will have many challenges that council will deal with,” with some of the major issues being:
•the development of a economic stability plan;
•continued work towards the development of a community-owned clinic;
•the development of a strategic plan to deal with the delivery of core services;
•continued work on roads, and the water and sewer system; and
•continued negotiations with area First Nations regarding sewer/water and land claim agreements.
“At budget time, council and administration, you’ll hear my phrase, ‘More for less.’ We must achieve savings by eliminating waste and duplication. We must make prudent decisions,” pledged Mayor Avis.
“Council, every decision we make must be in the best interests of the town and the majority of its citizens,” he stressed. “We are not here for personal gain or special interest groups.
“Thank you again, Fort Frances. And now, let’s get on with business.”
Mayor Avis and the councillors made their declarations of elected office and oaths of allegiance before Justice Thomas McKay.
Pastor Stephen Laing of the New Beginnings Fellowship did the invocation.
The OPP Colour Party and Dr. Bruce Lidkea, from the Fort Frances Highlanders, lead the new council, as well as town administration and management, into Council Chambers on Monday night.
Representatives from the OPP, Fort Frances Fire Department, RCMP, local MP Ken Boshcoff’s office, town auditors BDO Dunwoody, and town solicitor Wesley Derksen, also were on hand, not to mention numerous family members and friends of the mayor and council.
The inaugural meeting, which ran about 40 minutes, was followed by refreshments downstairs at the Civic Centre.
The new council’s first regular meeting will be held next Monday (Dec. 11).
Due to Christmas falling on a Monday, the second regular council meeting of the month will take place Dec. 18.
(Fort Frances Times)