Duane Hicks
In an effort to get more people participating on town boards and committees without having to commit too long, council has reduced the length of terms from four to two years.
Council made the decision at its meeting Monday night upon the recommendation of the Administration and Finance executive committee, at which time it also agreed the current consecutive-year term limit on any one board or committee be cut from nine years to eight.
“This was debated at the [Jan. 11] meeting, and I think the Administration and Finance felt that we should give it a try,” said Coun. Paul Ryan.
“We can always go back to a four-year term,” he added, noting the two-year term may get more people to apply for committees and “wet their feet.”
Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft emphasized the eight-year limit isn’t meant to dissuade people from coming back to a board or committee they like.
“If you do sit out for one year, then you have the right to re-apply to that committee and get back on,” he explained. “So we’re not [looking] to eliminate people from serving on committees but the possibility of sitting out for one year may give other people an opportunity to get on that committee, as well.
“You still have an opportunity to get back on that committee after one year. I think that’s important to point out,” he stressed.
Town clerk Glenn Treftlin, however, reiterated what he had said at the Jan. 11 council meeting—there’s no historical evidence indicating shorter terms would increase people’s likelihood of applying to town boards and committees.
The new term limits kick in this December, after the next municipal election.
Also at Monday’s meeting, council approved a report to change its meeting dates in 2010.
The Monday, May 24 meeting will move to Tuesday, May 25 due to Victoria Day while the Monday, Oct. 11 meeting will move to Tuesday, Oct. 12 due to Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, the Monday, Oct. 25 meeting has been rescheduled to Monday, Oct. 18 due to the municipal election, and the Monday, Dec. 27 meeting rescheduled to Monday, Dec. 20 because of Christmas and Boxing Day.
Also on Monday evening’s agenda, council:
•accepted the January, 2010 drinking after systems monthly report (it reports no problems);
•approved Safe Communities Rainy River District per capita funding for 2010 (this remains at $0.50 per capita, for a total of $4,051.50);
•approved a donation of $100 to the Rainy River District Music Festival Association re: 70th Festival of the Performing Arts (April, 2010);
•denied a financial request from the Tim Nordin men’s curling team re: competition expenses for the 2010 Dominion of Canada Northern Ontario Men’s Provincial Championship on Feb. 7-14 (this decision was based on the fact the event didn’t take place in the community and it does not comply with the town’s policy);
•denied a financial request from the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board to contribute to a new tenants welcome package;
•agreed to a request from Mary Jane Pearson of the Kidney Foundation to proclaim March, 2010 as “Kidney Health Month” in the Town of Fort Frances;
•approved a $500 grant for the BIA for electrical expenses in 2010; and
•authorized “Fun in the Sun” committee chair Paul Bock to submit a funding application to the Department of Canadian Heritage’s “Celebrate Canada!” program.
