Outgoing Clearview mayor says it's hard to let go
Council members not returning to the table in the coming term took an opportunity at their final meeting Monday to say farewell and ‘see yas around’.
Four council members are not returning to the table.
Mayor Ken Ferguson and councillors Orville Brown and Brent Preston did not seek reelection this time around.
Deputy Mayor Alicia Savage, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor, was not in attendance.
Ferguson was presented the gavel he has used during two terms as mayor and all three outgoing council members were presented plaques by clerk Pamela Fettes.
“I never thought this day would come to tell you the truth,” said Ferguson. “It’s a bit of a blur. It’s gone by really fast.”
He reminisced about the steep learning curve and how it was complicated further by amalgamation in 1994, the year he was first elected.
He thanked Savage for always having his back and said Clearview Township residents were lucky to have two dedicated councillors at the county level.
Ferguson said he decided to retire from municipal politics after 20 years to focus on family and work.
“It does come with costs. It takes a lot of time,” he said.
He warned the newcomers of the personal sacrifices required adding, “I wish you all the best. There is a lot happening and there’s more to come.”
He encouraged the new mayor and deputy mayor to form a partnership.
Ferguson said he is proud of the work the township has done in the past eight years.
“It’s hard sometimes for me to let go,” he said.
It’s like farming, he said, “You have to give before you receive and you’ll get more out of the land than you put in to it and that’s true with politics.”
“I leave happy,” he said, maintaining he wasn’t crying.
“Clearview is in a good place.”
Ferguson thanked staff adding, “This isn’t goodbye, I’ll just see yas around” to a standing ovation.
Outgoing councillor Orville Brown, who said a reporter once called him the godfather of Duntroon, took the opportunity to send a brief message to those who have caused him grief.
“Complain, complain, complain…” he said, urging the complainers to run for council. “Let them get the shit that we all take… I am just the godfather. Hallelujah.”
Preston first thanked everyone for their work during the council term and mentioned Savage specifically, who he said he got to know in the early days of his term while carpooling to NVCA meetings.
“I thought I was going to hate her but I very quickly came to like her,” said Preston. “She has always been motivated by a desire to help people…and a desire to work for the most vulnerable and least powerful people. I don’t think a lot of people see her that way.”
He thanked staff for helping him achieve his goals, saying the township is in good hands and has progressive leadership.
“You’ll be seeing more of me,” said Preston.
As a “last hoorah” earlier in the night, Preston tabled new business recommending the township put in place a formal procedure for outgoing council members to share information and opinions with incoming members.
Council unanimously agreed to have a process in place for 2018.
