Vote of Censure Goes Through, but Gutowski Ignores It

Jeff Green | Dec 20, 2012

In a 7-2 vote, members of Frontenac County Council, approved a resolution that reads: “Warden Gutowski has lost the confidence of Frontenac County Council. Warden Gutowski is being asked by Frontenac County Council to immediately resign from the Warden's position.”

Warden Gutowski and John Purdon, both from Central Frontenac, opposed the motion.

Although the motion expresses the will of the Council, it is not binding, and Warden Gutowski did not resign once the motion was passed.

Although it has been the practice for Frontenac County Wardens to resign after serving for one year, according to the county procedural bylaw the warden is elected for the entire term of Council, which runs until the end of 2014.

South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison, who served a s Warden in 2011, the first year of the current term, and then resigned last December, made the strongest statement of any of those who spoke in favour of the motion.

“We had a strategic planning meeting on November 28th, and everything that was brought up there was about understanding our roles, and about teamwork. That does not make any sense to me any more in light of what the Warden is doing. It is total disrespect for 146 years of tradition. It flies in the face of democracy. The understanding is that it has always been a one-year term for warden, and that the Warden serves at the pleasure of Council. The only thing that makes me feel better about this is that dictators tend to not last that long,” said Davison.

John Macdougall, who did not comment when the issue of Gutowski remaining as warden was first raised a week ago, said this time that he would be supporting the motion asking for her resignation.

“In our inaugural meeting, right in the minutes, there are comments about the fact that each mayor would have a chance to be a warden during the four year term of council. I believe in one year appointments because each of us has been elected to build relationships between ourselves and the other townships, the relationship is much stronger if each Mayor gets a turn being Warden.”

For her part, Warden Gutowski was defiant in the face of the statements by many members of Council.

“I was very well aware of the term of warden, had done my research and my homework. I have been concerned that the warden has been changing every year because of concerns about continuity. Under the circumstances, I have made the decision that I will remain as warden for the current time; I have not said that I will remain the warden for an entire year. Frankly, I am embarrassed by this motion,” she said.

After the motion was passed, Gutowski said, “I don't know if members of Council know this, but on the chain of office the name of Phil Leonard is listed as warden for the year 2000, 2001, and 2003.

“He served those years because he was asked to do so by his fellow councillors, not because he refused to leave. He served at the pleasure of Council, the exact opposite of that you are doing” said Gary Davison.

“I don't know what happened. I wasn't here then,” said Gutowski, who then moved on as if the motion had never been passed, saying “we will now move on with our agenda.”

Other members of Council were not as willing to move on, however.

By an overwhelming majority, Council refused to receive a presentation regarding a proposed strategic plan for the coming years.

“This is a very nice report,” said Gary Davison, “Unfortunately I cannot accept it because it talks about co-operation, and we have just seen that there is no such thing as co-operation on this Council.”

“To me this report has been co-opted by the staff. I should also point out that it does not even spell Wolfe Island correctly. The Island was named after the general, not the animal,” said Frontenac Islands Mayor and Wolfe Island resident Dennis Doyle.

The strategic plan, which was funded out of the 2012 budget, was rejected in a vote of 7-2.

After that, the meeting continued for another two hours without incident.