Council bids farewell to the class of 2010 – 2014

December 3, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Brock Weir

John Gallo feels as though he still has a lot to give to the community.

That was the sentiment he expressed as he participated in his last meeting as an Aurora Councillor after serving for six years.

Gallo was one of three Councillors on the receiving end of tributes at the final meeting of the 2010 – 2014 term last week, after coming in second in the 2014 Mayoralty Race.

Mayor Geoffrey Dawe led the tributes to the outgoing councillors, including Evelyn Buck and Don Constable, presenting Mr. Gallo and Mr. Constable with a token of the Town’s appreciation at the start of the meeting.

Mrs. Buck was not in attendance.

“Thank you both very much for the work you have contributed and for your passion and dedication to the Town,” said Mayor Dawe.
While Mr. Gallo said it was “somewhat sad” to leave the table, it was a rewarding experience.

“Although we have had our differences, I believe we have done a good job to serve the community,” said Mr. Gallo. “Particularly, I would like to thank all my supporters throughout the years. I hope I have made you proud. I have done my best to bring everything I could to the Council table and I am very happy with our accomplishments.

“It is somewhat sad to leave the Council table. I feel I still have a lot more to contribute, and perhaps I will do it in other ways, but I also want to wish the incoming Council all the best of luck. If there is anything I can do to help out, I will be there.”

Mr. Constable, who was appointed to the Council table at the end of July to fill the vacancy left by Chris Ballard, who was elected Newmarket-Aurora’s Member of Provincial Parliament that spring, thanked Mayor Dawe “and the majority of Councillors” for the opportunity over the last few months.

“It certainly has been rewarding to certainly represent our community and taxpayers,” he said. “The same thing with our staff. I can’t say enough about the majority of staff too who have been excellent to work with, and you do a great job. To the newly elected Councillors, I wish you three all the best success over the next four years. To the public, to my family, and to the many volunteers, I just wanted to say thank you. It is certainly nice to be in a community that is well supported by the taxpayers, businesses and volunteers.”

There was a lot of love to go around the room as Councillors who fared better in October’s poll spoke of the bittersweet nature of the term’s final meeting.
Councillor Sandra Humfryes said the last four years have been “an incredible experience working together.”

“I am going to miss some of the individuals who won’t be back, but will be back in other ways and functions to support Town initiatives,” she said. “It has just been a real honour.”

Councillor Wendy Gaertner used her opportunity to pay tribute to Mr. Gallo’s service.

“I would like to thank [him] for his dedication to involving citizens in the process of government, for championing transparent government, and for asking a lot of pertinent questions with respect to how we spend the public’s money,” said Councillor Gaertner.

Added Councillor Michael Thompson: “I too would like to express my gratitude to everyone for this last term and working together to help make the community better. I look forward to continuing on in the next term.”

In his remarks, Councillor John Abel said it was an “honour and a pleasure” to serve and engage the community, two facets of the job he said were particular highlights.

“I would like to extend to the Councillors that are leaving my thanks and wishing them all the best in the future,” he said. “Thank you for serving the community.”

One voice missing around the table was Evelyn Buck. (Mrs. Buck expresses her thoughts on the outgoing Council in a Letter to the Editor on Page 4 of this week’s edition of The Auroran)

“I didn’t always agree with her, but she has certainly been a wealth of information, a great deal of knowledge, and I do believe she will be missed on Council over the next four years,” said Councillor Pirri. “I am extremely appreciative of the work she has done over the last four years, as well as the work in the past, and not just of Councillor Buck, but everyone else around the table and the Councillors who will be leaving us.

“It is with a heavy heart that I want to say thank you to everybody and I am very much looking forward to the next four years.”

In closing, Mayor Dawe said serving on Council is one of the most “fascinating professions” one can take on, and one that brings with it a series of highs and occasional lows.

“I certainly want to thank the departing Councillors for their work and I certainly look forward to working with the [remaining and] new Councillors and I also want to echo the statements about working with staff,” he said. “I found our staff incredibly professional and I believe that they do a great job and are highly underrated. I want to thank staff for the work they do as well and we will see if we can’t push you a bit harder next term!”