Stouffville 'weary, cynical' after Justin Altmann's term: new mayor

'I want to apologize to residents hurt on all sides'

Yorkregion.com
December 6, 2018
Lisa Queen

Former mayor Justin Altmann was not physically in the council chambers for the inauguration of Whitchurch-Stouffville’s new council but his presence dominated the proceedings.

In addition to the ceremonial elements of any inaugural meeting --a piper piping in the mayor and councillors, the singing of the national anthem, the swearing in of council members, politicians thanking family, friends and their campaign teams --Altmann’s controversial four-year legacy was front and centre at the event held the evening of Dec. 4 at the town hall.

Not that newly elected Mayor Iain Lovatt or councillors uttered Altmann’s name, but they spoke of the need to move beyond the fallout created during often-tumultuous previous council’s term with Altmann at the helm.

“Many have lost trust in the political process and, because of that, we have found ourselves weary, cynical, divided as a community. It’s you I want to address tonight,” Lovatt said.

“I feel it’s important as your new mayor to literally, as I can, turn the page tonight, express my sadness for what has gone on and set a vision to heal and move forward together. From my office, I want to apologize to those who have been hurt on all sides and I pray that tonight can be a good first step towards our healing as a community. We are an amazing community and I firmly believe there is far more that unites us than divides us.”

Coun. Rick Upton apologized to town staff, who often found themselves in the “crossfire” during the last four years.

While council issues were confusing, controversial and polarizing, Ward 1 Coun. Ken Ferdinands congratulated the electorate for “voting in a manner that was appropriate. They saw the clarity of the situation. The other thing they did, they rejected a form of what I’m characterizing as extreme partisanship into local government.”

It was necessary to acknowledge the reality of the past four years in order to move forward, Ferdinands said after the meeting.

“The most benign (way to describe the previous term) is extremely difficult,” he said.

“It was extremely stressful to be here because you didn’t know what would blow up next.”