WHO WILL BE NEXT YEAR'S WARDEN?

The inauguration of the new counties council takes place in mid-December but there may be a little problem finding someone to take the position of warden of the counties for next year.

The tradition is that the position of warden for the United Counties of Prescott-Russell (UCPR) alternates each year between the mayors of the eastern part of the counties and those of the west. The results of the recent municipal election have left Robert Kirby, the incumbent mayor of East Hawkesbury Township, as the sole experienced candidate from the eastern part of the counties. He hai served as warden in past years, during thel time he has represented East Hawkesbury at UCPR council. "I hadn't planned on running," Kirby sai during an interview following the October 2 counties council session. "I've got quite lot on my plate right now. I won't be puttin my name in for warden." The problem is that the other three east ern mayors are all new to their positions a mayors, though at least one, Normand Riopel of Champlain Township, has extensive pas experience as a councillor for Champlai Township to help him with becoming accus tomed to his new duties. In the past, UCP council has avoided giving the warden's post tion to a new mayor because that person i busy becoming familiar with the position.

Solutions

Mayor François St-Amour is the current UCPR warden and, according to tradition, will step down from the position in December as part of the usual inaugural ceremony for the new counties council.

There has been discussion in the past about making the warden's position a twoyear term, to help provide continuity for the UCPR with some of its dealings on issues with the provincial and federal governments.

Asking St-Amour, who is one of UCPR's western mayors, to continue on as warden for another year could be one way to resolve the situation.

“I would rather step down,” said St-Amour during an October 29 phone interview, “and see what the new members (of counties council) have to say.”

Another solution might be to allow an exception to tradition and allow the current experienced mayors from the western part of the counties to stand for the warden position.

“The tradition does call for it to be an eastern mayor though,” said Stéphane Parisien, UCPR chief administrator. “But I’m going to do some ‘fishing’ to see.”

—archives Le maire Robert Kirby du Canton de Hawkesbury Est n’a pas envie de devenir directeur l’an prochain pour les Comtés unis de Prescott et Russell (CUPR) car il est trop occupé avec les affaires de sa propre municipalité et ses préoccupations familiales. La tradition veut que le poste de directeur alterne chaque année entre les maires de l’est des CUPR et ceux de l’ouest, mais les résultats des élections municipales de cette année ont fait de M. Kirby le seul candidat expérimenté disponible dans l’est.