The inaugural meeting of the newly elected Elliot Lake council took place this evening to a full house in the city council chambers attended by family, friends and supporters.
The newly sworn-in council consists of Mayor Chris Patrie, with councillors Norm Mann, Rick Bull, Andrew Wannan, Charles Flintoff, Merrill Seidel and Luc D. Morrissette taking their respective seats around the council horseshoe. The mayor named Andrew Wannan as the deputy mayor, as is the tradition on the council for the member gaining the most votes in the election.
He also named council veteran Norm Mann to the position of council finance chairman pending a vote of the finance committee when it meets.
All the new members took their oaths of the office dealing with council conduct in office, conflict of interest and affirmation of confidentiality prior to being seated as the new council.
In a short speech to those assembled at the inaugural meeting, Mayor Patrie thanked his wife Kelly for her support and to the voters who elected him mayor along with campaign volunteers.
He also spoke about his hopes for the newly elected council members, which he has been in discussion since being proclaimed the new mayor of Elliot Lake.
The mayor spoke about the goals his council will deal with over the next four-year term.
“I look forward to working with them (new council) and staff on the very important issues we have in front of us,” he said.
“Since the election, we have discussed the… predominant and, in some cases, urgent matters that we will have to address.
"Some of those items will take difficult decisions and likely will not please everyone, but, chiefly, we are collectively being entrusted by the people of our wonderful community to operate honestly and with transparency.”
Those issues will include an arts hub, improvements to infrastructure and business expansion at the airport.
Members of the council each expressed their hope of improving the community with integrity and honesty.
They also expressed an interest in working cooperatively with the new council and its most new members.