Council is sworn in
Members pledge to work together
By Bill Rea

Rev. Nicola Skinner administered the Declaration of Office to Mayor Margaret Black at Monday's inaugural meeting of council held at The Kingbridge Centre.

Members of the new King Township council were sticking to their commitments to work together as they were sworn into office for the coming four-year term Monday night.

Rev. Nicola Skinner of All Saints' Anglican Church in King City administered the Declarations of Office to Mayor Margaret Black and the six councillors, including rookie members Cleve Mortelliti and Jeff Laidlaw.

About 100 members of the public were on hand for the ceremony, including family and friends of those being sworn in, along with outgoing councillor Peter Grandilli and former councilor Jim Morning.

Black stressed the need to work together as she delivered her inaugural address to start her fifth term as mayor.

"We must all put the interests of our community first, keeping in mind that our goal is always to enhance the quality of life for those who live and work in our township," she declared. "This is our mission."

Black stated she felt the same sense of honour and excitement being sworn in for her fifth term as she did at the start of her first.

Schomberg singer Geoff Perry and Hillary Coot provided a musical interlude at Monday' s inaugural meeting of council.

"I love this municipality," she said. "I love King Township and above all, I love its people, it's beauty."

"Members of council, together you and I face a daily challenge of making King Township a place where people want to work and live and raise their families," she added.

Black also said she is looking forward to great things happening in the coming term.

"Together, we can continue to improve our quality of life and protect our King," she said. "Our King will always be green, protected by our existing community plans, the Greenbelt and Oak Ridges Moraine legislation."

She also said that council, together, can make villages sustainable, make sure they make the right decisions for King and residents, and ensure a fair deal for King, building on the progress made in the last term of council, in which some $5 million was obtained from other levels of government for various projects.

New Councillors Cleve Mortelliti and Jeff Laidlaw read their Declarations of Office for the first time Monday night.

"Leadership is not just about making strong decisions," Black said. "It's about making the right decisions, so we can enjoy today and feel secure in the future. It's about creating an environment of safety, happiness, pride, community spirit and mutual respect for all."

She also pledged it will be "an action council; an implementation council," working with local Cambers of Commerce to implement community plans, the recreation master plan and make progress with advisory committees, etc.

"Tonight, as we begin another term of office, I look forward to a spirit of cooperation and harmony, as we all work together," she remarked. "And I extend my hand in friendship and in the spirit of cooperation and harmony."

Each of the councillors was given a chance to make inaugural remarks.

Mortelliti reflected on his campaign slogan of "Your voice in King," believing in its appeal to a broader mass and the striving for balance. He said it's impossible to please everyone, but maintained that such an effort should be the goal of all elected representatives. He added that the higher the ideals one reaches for, the higher the achievements.

He also expressed his belief that the next four years could be filled with opportunities for forward thinking in King. Mortelliti pointed out the economy has been shifting in positive ways, but at the expense of environmental interests.

He pointed to the opportunity represented by the Shift, a wall zig-zagging its way through a farm field just south of King City. It is a work of art, built in the early 1970s by renowned American artist Richard Serra, after having been commissioned by Roger Davidson, addressing questions of perception, and it's one of the items the Township of King Heritage Committee wants registered under the Ontario Heritage Act.

He said it carries symbolism for the community, and expressed the hope that it can be protected as an inspirational springboard for the community.

Mortelliti said he understands the importance of economic sustainability, but added that depends of a health environment. Balance is the key.

Addressing specifics, Mortelliti commented on the financial burden being placed on King City residents who have to hook their homes up to the new sewer system. He observed there have always been divisions in the village over this issue, but there has also always been a unity that people don't want to see King City run over by developers and turned into another Maple. He also pointed out there are even some people who supported the sewers who are being forced to sell their homes because they can't afford the accompanying costs. He said he was appealing to the good nature of council and Township staff to make sure that doesn't happen. "This protection must be provided for in law," he declared.

"It's a great pleasure and a little daunting to stand up here tonight and look forward over the next four years; and think to myself, 'well I did volunteer,'" Laidlaw commented in his remarks.

He did say he was looking forward to working with his fellow councillors, as well as Township staff and the residents.

Laidlaw promised to spend a lot of his time speaking to all parties and trying to bring factions together.

He also offered words for the beauty of King, pointing out most residents moved here because of what it is, and not for what it might become. He added people don't want what he called "sardine-can subdivisions," and stressed the council has a responsibility to uphold the community plans and involve the public.

As well, Laidlaw stressed the need to protect water supplies and heritage buildings, deal with traffic concerns, etc. He promised to communicate these issues with community groups.

He also acknowledged that as a novice, he expects to make a lot of mistakes, "and I trust that you will call me out on them."

"I hope that I don't let you down," he concluded.

Councillor Linda Pabst started her fifth term on council by expressing her feelings of honour and privilege at being chosen to represent her ward. She said she looks forward to council working together as a team to set policies that reflect the desires and needs of the residents.

Pabst stressed the need to protect and sustain rural lifestyles, as well as the need for fiscal responsibility and an improved tax base. She also said the community plans in place will guide responsible, controlled growth and respect green space.

"I'm thrilled, humbled and honoured to be your Ward 4 councillor," was the way Councillor Bill Cober opened his remarks.

He also thanked all the candidates who ran in the municipal elections and all the volunteers who worked for them for their contributions to the community.

Cober touched on some key issues, pointing out the people of King had put their trust in the councillors to work together to make informed and responsible decisions.

He also pointed to the need to expand recreation opportunities, for growth management that respects rural areas and the balance between resident and industrialcommercial development, for new development that respects the local environment, and optimum service levels from all municipal departments. As well, he commented on the importance of educating other levels of government on the needs of King.

Councillor Jane Underhill expressed her appreciation to all the candidates and residents who took part in the elections last month.

She also commented on where her focus will be in the coming four years, pointing out that just because the sewers are being installed in King City, that doesn't mean she's run short of issues.

Underhill said she's still concerned about the water supply in King City, and the plans of York Region to bring in water from Lake Ontario. "This is insane," she declared.

She also addressed the population figures in the King City community plan, stating they are not targets, and should be scaled back to something more appropriate.

In addition, Underhill said she would want council to work on preserving and protecting both natural and built heritage resources. "The forest or field is not an overlooked profit opportunity," is the message she said developers need to hear.

As well, Underhill stressed the need for more park land and she called for a stop to the policy of allowing developers to put up money in lieu of parkland dedication.

"We just need political will to do the right thing," she declared.

Councillor Jack Rupke commented on some of the things he's envisioning for Ward 6, including improvements to King Street and Millers Sideroad, lights in Ansnorveldt Park and more sidewalks in the community. He also commented on the need to work on the drainage situation in the Holland Marsh.

Rupke pointed out that rapid growth in places surrounding King has added to the Township costs to maintain roads that are being used by traffic passing through, and stated York has to be ready to take on some of these roads, at its own expense.

He also commented on the need for an east-west bypass.

"We can work to make King Township an even better place to live and work," he concluded.