A motion of non confidence in Mayor Steve Ferguson advanced by fellow Councillor Corey Engelsdorfer led to protracted and divided debate at Council last week.

The motion contained a litany of complaints, from the “governance and direction of the municipality” to the “financial risk and debt load associated with infrastructure spending.”

In between came the hardships endured by Wellington residents due to water main construction along Main Street, charges of “unhealthy” relations between staff and the head of council, a lack of transparency, and worry about the province’s extension of Strong Mayor powers to the municipality.

Numerous councillors noted the motion was an unfair laundry list, one that assigned the Mayor, who casts, like all the other councillors, just one vote, sole responsibility for decisions taken by Council.

The motion failed on a tie vote of 7-7, with Councillors Engelsdorfer, Prinzen, Braney, Nieman, Pennell, Harrison and Branderhorst in favour.

Councillor Sam Branderhorst suggested the friendly amendment of adding “and Council” to every clause targeting the Mayor, which was accepted. That compelled her to vote in favour of a motion the balance of Councillors described as partisan and divisive.

A number of residents spoke against the motion, addressing Councillor Engelsdorfer directly. Carlyn Moulton, owner of Oeno Gallery, also speaking on behalf of Alexandra Bake and Lanny Huff, noted that the Councillor publishes a newspaper that foments fear and mistrust that is then blamed on the Mayor.

Councillor Engelsdorfer says that Wellington residents have lacked clear communication
about the construction project. I am left to wonder how it is,
as a member of Council who is in the most peculiar position of publishing a weekly newspaper
for the benefit of Wellington residents, how it is that they are both
lacking in information, and
increasingly suspicious of both municipal staff and our Mayor?

—Carlyn Moulton

“Councillor Engelsdorfer says that Wellington residents have lacked clear communication about the construction project. I am left to wonder how it is, as a member of Council who is in the most peculiar position of publishing a weekly newspaper for the benefit of Wellington residents, how it is that they are both lacking in information, and increasingly suspicious of both municipal staff and our Mayor?”

A motion of non-confidence had no meaning in municipal politics, she continued.

“As it is not a real thing, it is a fake thing, and can only be seen as an attempt to create and foster division. To be frank, it looks like a cheap shot from people who would prefer the County look more like the boarded up town north of 7 that I grew up in than the vibrant community we are engaged in building here for the future.

“We need to work together constructively, so we don’t lose any more good people than we already have,” she concluded, referring to the resignation of the County’s CAO, Marcia Wallace, citing a toxic work environment.

Resident Paul Allen spoke next, noting “a very long democratic process” had resulted in the waterworks infrastructure underway in Wellington. “Why single out the Mayor for decisions Council has taken?” he asked.

Also addressing Councillor Engelsdorfer, Mr. Allen noted that the unrest in Wellington is “partly a bed that you and your paper have made for yourself. The editorial voice out of Wellington has tried to foster anger and fear, and I’m not sure that that has served your community well or been fair to your elected colleagues.”

“To the extent that that voice has singled out the Mayor and the CAO for their lack of competence and impugns their personal integrity, I think it has been a disservice,” he said.

We have both the right and responsibility to champion contrary views, but that 
responsibility does not extend to open and repeated attacks on the
character and integrity of another council member, part
of a relentless, well-orchestrated, and coordinated campaign.

—Councillor Bill Roberts

Council Debate

No residents, and few Councillors, spoke in favour of the motion. Councillor Chris Braney worried about the “dictatorship” that the Premier’s extension of Strong Mayor powers would create. Such powers risk “undermining the fundamentals of democracy in rural communities and enable personal political agendas to overtake democratic process,” he charged, saying the powers were merely “disguised” as a way to speed up housing and infrastructure projects, “when what they really want is to allow mayors to ram through a political agenda without accountability.

“I implore my Council colleagues to reaffirm and embrace our current municipal council / CAO model as a balanced, collaborative approach to municipal governance,” he argued, while supporting a motion of non-confidence directed at the Mayor, and without acknowledging the almost coincident resignation of the CAO.

Councillor Bill Roberts worried this was “the most dysfunctional and divisive Council in our County’s history.” He noted the large volume of emails from Wellington residents directed at all Council members. “Motions like this give license to misinformed and malicious emails about ‘crimes’ and ‘backroom deals’ that simply never happened and are not happening.

“We need to ask ourselves whether the silent majority of County folk would celebrate this kind of personalized, targeted infight.

“As elected representatives we have both the right and responsibility to champion contrary views, but that responsibility does not extend to open and repeated attacks on the character and integrity of another council member, and that seem to be part of a relentless, well-orchestrated, and coordinated campaign.” 

Councillor Sam Grosso was succinct. “A team doesn’t throw their driver under the bus.”

The Mayor Responds

Mayor Ferguson questioned the assertion that his relations with County staff had “deteriorated to unhealthy levels,” a charge for which he said there was “no evidence whatsoever.”

Likewise, he said there were no grounds for the accusation of a lack of transparency on his part. “That would mean I kept secrets and lied,” he said, while noting that, on occasion, he was obliged to keep certain conversations confidential.

He also noted that if he were to exercise the Strong Mayor powers conferred by the Premier, it would be in the service of advancing objectives already agreed upon by Council.

“We have together chosen to steer this community respectfully to a future brightened by investment, one where existing families can thrive and new families can seek their own paths.” Citing wait lists for daycare in the hundreds and jammed after-school programs, “the evidence is that people see opportunity in Prince Edward County,” he affirmed.

“This Council has set the building of homes and the water infrastructure that requires as a key priority. The concerns we hear from residents about the difficulty affording housing and finding opportunity in the community they grew up in indicates we collectively have a responsibility to make these plans work.”

It is my responsibility as the Mayor to see it through to the best of my ability with every tool available, used wisely and with appropriate input from others.
Any of the tools in the legislation, if used at all, would be employed only as a last resort and following consultation and discussion with council, the community, and other stakeholders.

Not taking on such powers would be akin to locking tools in the toolbox,
making them inaccessible when you need them most.” 

—Mayor Steve Ferguson

“It is my responsibility as the Mayor to see it through to the best of my ability with every tool available, used wisely and with appropriate input from others.

“Any of the tools in the legislation, if used at all, would be employed only as a last resort and following consultation and discussion with council, the community, and other stakeholders.

“Not taking on such powers would be akin to locking tools in the toolbox, making them inaccessible when you need them most.”