New Paradise mayor’s first decision ruffles feathers of returning councillor

By Mark Squibb

Newly minted members of Paradise council were sworn in during a gala at the Double Ice Complex last Tuesday evening.

The event included a sit-down dinner for councillors and their families, as well as Town staff, and while much of the evening’s spotlight was on the newly elected, dues were paid to outgoing members Deborah Quilty and Dan Bobbett, both of whom chose not to seek re-election. Quilty retired from municipal politics after a career of over 30 years while Bobbett campaigned for John Hogan’s Liberals in the provincial electoral district of Topsail-Paradise.

Following the dinner and ceremony, which lasted about two hours, council held a short public meeting, the first of this new council and the first meeting to be chaired by newly elected Mayor Patrick Martin, who defeated fellow councillor Larry Vaters for the coveted mayor’s chair in a close contest October 2.
During the meeting, councillor Kimberley Street was acclaimed as deputy mayor for a second consecutive term.

And while most of the meeting was mere formality, there were a few ruffled feathers – councillor Glen Carew expressed his disappointment that Martin had appointed him council ex officio – a member who assumes the role of another committee member should they be absent from a committee meeting.

“We had a phone conversation today and I essentially communicated that I was surprised, and somewhat disappointed, regarding the decision for me to be relegated to the ex officio position for this upcoming term of council,” said Carew. “Of course, I feel my acute work effort and painstaking preparation and meaningful engagement on all committees of council and with resident matters over the past four years certainly would have seen me on a more substantive role on this term of council. With that said, your Worship, I want to start this term off on a positive note, and solid footing, and so I accept the appointment, and I will respect your decision. I will work to be a resource to my fellow councillors around the table and offer my experience and service to those that want to leverage that, especially as we have to navigate some significant challenges in the coming months which will require an all hands on deck approach.”

Street, meanwhile, will chair the administration and corporate services committee, Erin Furlong will chair the infrastructure and engineering committee, Jennifer Hiscock will chair the recreation and community services committee, Sheldon Antle will chair the planning and protective services committee, and Tommy Maher will chair the public works committee.

Martin also appointed councillors to a number of external committees.

Street and Maher were appointed to the Northeast Avalon Joint Council, Carew to the Eastern Regional Service Board, Furlong to Regional Wase Water, Hiscock to the Peter Barry Duff Commission and the equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility advisory committee, Antle to the St. John’s Regional Fire Department and the War Memorial committee, and Maher to the business and employment committee.