No word on filling vacant Parks chair position
Former mayor could be one candidate to head commission
There seems to be no rush to fill the vacant chairman position at the Niagara Parks Commission.
The job has been open since Janice Thomson’s term expired Nov. 15. Earlier this month, she said she applied for reappointment to a third term but hadn’t heard anything from the provincial Conservative government.
Thomson couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.
Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff, the region’s only government member, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
In the meantime it’s business as usual, said Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati.
“They’ve got very capable senior staff at the Niagara Parks Commission, and now (chief operating officer) David Adames is currently taking the lead position” as acting chief executive officer, said Diodati, Niagara Region’s representative on the parks board.
“He’s been there long enough and he’s proven his abilities, he understands the mandate and the direction of the Parks.”
One name being mentioned as possibly the next parks chair is former Niagara Falls mayor Ted Salci.
In addition to two terms as mayor, from 2003 to 2010, he also served as a federal citizenship judge for six years until November 2017 and was a member of the province’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission from 2001 to 2004.
He said he hasn’t been approached by anyone from Queen’s Park but would be interested in the job.
“I certainly would,” he said. “I think it would be a natural progression for me in terms of the service I’ve had in the past, given the fact I’ve been mayor of the city for seven years, I sat on the parks commission for three of those years and I have experience at the regional level.
“So I’m fortunate to have that experience to offer to the com-
mission.”
He applied for a provincial posting through the Appointments Secretariat of Ontario. With more than 300 appointments to fill on boards and agencies across the province, the parks chair position has not yet been officially posted.
“I’m waiting to see what direction they’ll take,” said Salci.
Queen’s Park is responsible for filling eight of the 12 seats on the parks board, including the chair and vice-chair.
Vice-chair Joan Andrews’ term is due to expire Dec. 31. With the appointment of Sandie Bellows of St. Catharines last month, there is one more vacancy to be filled through Queen’s Park.
The other four members are named locally by the Region and the municipalities of Niagara Falls, Fort Erie and Niagara-onthe-Lake.