New Holyrood council champing to go

By Craig Westcott

Holyrood’s new mayor wasted no time at the first meeting of the new term October 16 selecting committee chairmen and conducting a vote on who should be her deputy.
Laura Crawley said she intends to make transparency a hallmark of the new council’s coming four years in office.
After calling for nominations from around the table, councillor Michelle Woodford was elected deputy mayor by acclamation.
Woodford served as deputy mayor last term as well and received the most votes for council among all candidates in the October 2 municipal election. She was nominated for the position this time by councillor Steve Winsor.
“I believe that she performed exemplary service for this town the last four years,” said Winsor. “And mayor, as you said earlier, this is a team, and every team needs an alternate captain, and I think (Woodford) will be a great alternate captain.”
The nomination was seconded by councillor Mabel Tilley. No other nominations were put forward.
As for the committees, Mayor Crawley selected Winsor to once again head the infrastructure and public works committee, new councillor Sandra Crawley to chair recreation and community events, new councillor Charlotte Story to chair communications, Tilley to head public safety, returning councillor Bruce King to chair planning and development, and Deputy Mayor Woodford to look after corporate services and administration, which makes her the lead councillor for putting together next year’s budget.
Mayor Crawley said she will appoint the other committee members after council has a chance to discuss the matter at its first committee of the whole meeting, which is conducted privately.
In her first “Mayor’s Update,” Crawley said she was honoured and humbled to serve as mayor.
“Thank you for putting your faith in me and the vision we share with this wonderful town,” Crawley said, adding her congratulations to each of the other members of council on their election.
“Your election is a testament to your commitment to public service,” said the mayor, “and I look forward to working side by side with each of you.”
Mayor Crawley also thanked two longtime council members who didn’t win re-election.
“Leadership is a relay race, not a sprint, and tonight as we take the baton, it’s vital that we pause to recognize those who have just finished their leg,” said Crawley. “To our outgoing councillor Sadie King, thank you. Public service is often a thankless job requiring late nights, tough decisions and true grit. Your incredible 28 years of service and dedication to Holyrood laid a solid foundation for us to build upon. For that we are grateful. To outgoing Mayor Gary Goobie, your years of service have made a lasting and positive impact on our community. You steered this town through periods of growth and some challenging times, and you did so with persistence and a clear love for our community. On behalf of all our citizens we extend our sincerest thanks and best wishes for the future. We inherit a town that is better because of your influence.”
Crawley said the new council has to roll up its sleeves and face the challenges ahead, including supporting the town’s local businesses, ensuring infrastructure is maintained for future generations, “and most importantly making sure Holyrood remains a place for everyone from our newest families to our oldest veterans to feel safe, heard and proud to call home.”
Deputy Mayor Woodford congratulated Crawley on making history by being elected Holyrood’s first female mayor.
“To the residents of Holyrood, I want to thank you for your continued trust and support,” Woodford added. “I’m honoured by the opportunity to represent you once again. Please know that I remain committed to bringing your concerns to the table and making decisions that reflect the best interests of all of the residents in the town.”
Councillor Crawley thanked voters for putting their trust in her and promised to serve to the best of her ability.
Councillor King congratulated the mayor and the rest of council and said he is looking forward to the next four years.
Councillor Story also congratulated the mayor and rest of council. “I am really looking forward, I’m excited about being part of the team,” she said. “I’ve got lots of ideas – you might think I’m crazy, but that’s alright, we’ll work on those – but I’m really delighted, I look forward to the next four years.”
Councillor Tilley welcomed the two new councillors and encouraged them to ask questions and seek help from the veterans.
“I want to send a big thank you to councillor Sadie King,” Tilley added. “Now she has some time to enjoy life. I want to say thank you for all that she’s done, for her never ending vigilance for seniors. I had a conversation with her last week, and I said I will be your voice for seniors. And also, for the outgoing mayor – I learned so much from Gary and what he did for the community, and his lifespan as a mayor and councillor is remarkable.”
Like Woodford, councillor Winsor remarked on the precedent being set by Crawley’s election as mayor.
“It’s actually thrilling to see a woman in that seat for the first time in Holyrood,” Winsor said. “You made history, and I think that’s excellent.”
Winsor congratulated the other councillors and described the new group as an excellent team. He also thanked residents for their trust, his family for their support, and the new mayor for reappointing him to infrastructure and public works.
“That’s what’s near and dear to my heart,” Winsor said. “I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves. We’ve got a lot of work to do. It takes time to do projects, and it takes time to do it right… We have a water system expansion to come, there are sewer treatment upgrades to come, there is a water supply expansion through a water study and test wells that are being drilled, we have a community centre concept study, concept design and public consultation coming, we have new cell phone towers coming by Bell Canada, there is the festival grounds project and boardwalk continuation – so many projects. There are a lot of great things coming for this town and we need to get down to it and get moving and I look forward to that.”