A new Belleville city council will soon get down to business for the next four years.
Well over 100 dignitaries and family members packed council chambers Tuesday for the swearing-in and inaugural meeting of the new council.
Along with Mayor Neil Ellis, the new Belleville council consists of incumbents Garnet Thompson, Tyler Allsopp, Paul Carr, Sean Kelly, and Chris Malette, along with newcomers Barbara Enright-Miller, Kathryn Brown, and Lisa Anne-Chatten.
Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis is sworn-in to office by his daughter Maddison Mather. (Photo: Quinte News)
In his inaugural address Ellis began by thanking his family. “My family is the key to any success I’ve had in political life. Politics is hard work and if candidates don’t have the support of their loved ones it won’t work. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my family.”
Ellis said he felt he’d come full circle in politics, having served many years previously on Belleville council before moving to Ottawa as MP for Bay of Quinte riding most recently. “I enjoyed my time in Ottawa and made a lot of contacts but in my heart I knew I wanted to come home and serve again at city hall. Local politics is the most important, where you’re closest to the residents you serve.”
Ellis pledged to work collaboratively with his council and city staff. “I want to build a team together out of mutual respect and admiration. We can disagree but I’m going to stress that egos, personal agendas and vendettas need to be left at the door. It’s time for a positive atmosphere at City Hall that will help people flourish to realize the full potential of the city and the area.”
Integrity was a major part of Ellis’ speech saying it was the most important attribute a member of council or staff could have and promised it would guide all of his actions and decisions. “If I make a mistake I’ll own it.”
The mayor praised the makeup of the new council welcoming the experience of the incumbents and the ideas of the newcomers. His priorities include more physician recruitment, economic growth, and the building of more housing, especially more affordable housing. “We will be talking to our provincial and federal representatives to be sure we get help in providing security to our residents.”
Ellis said Belleville has a bright future and he said council and staff will work together to make it the best city in Ontario. That brought on one of a handful of standing ovations.
The longest serving member on council Garnet Thompson drapes the Mayor’s Chain of Office over Mayor Ellis’ shoulders. (Photo: Quinte News)
Providing council’s response to the mayor’s speech was councillor Tyler Allsopp, the top vote-getter in the race for a councillor seat.
Allsopp said he was excited and encouraged by the mayor’s collaborative leadership style and said the new council had a good mix of creativity, vision, and compassion. “Let’s aim at our problems, not each other. We owe it to the residents, the people who elected us, to bring our best selves to the council table. We can get things done, especially with such a great staff backing us.”
Council received congratulations, either in person or from a representative from MP Ryan Williams, MPP Todd Smith, MPP Ric Bresee, Hastings County, the 8 Wing Base Commander, and area Mayors Jim Harrison, Steve Ferguson, and Brian Ostrander.
Watching from the gallery were former Mayor Taso Christopher and former councillors Tom Lafferty and Jackie Denyes.
