Muskoka Lakes shifts committee chairs

MUSKOKA LAKES - The township is shuffling its committee chairs to bring new perspectives half way through the term, according to Muskoka Lakes Mayor.
One of the largest changes of the Muskoka Lakes shift removes Coun. Ruth Nishikawa from chair of planning, one of the most demanding committees, and places her as chair of parks, trails and libraries, replacing her with Coun. Brad Burgess.
“We’re looking at the second half of our term and it’s an opportunity to give some fresh perspective on our different committees and as well it allows those who are quite experienced in certain areas to more fulsomely debate when they’re not the chair of the committee,” said Mayor Alice Murphy.
The change took place at the first committee of the whole meeting of 2013 on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
Nishikawa said the mayor called to tell her about the change the Sunday before the meeting.
“The mayor feels that the position would be suited better for someone else, that it’s better for the whole,” she said.
Last year Nishikawa showed her enthusiastic support for an affordable housing development proposed for Bala which Murphy didn’t approve of in Bala’s core. The developer, Greg Knight, later withdrew the proposal, laying the blame at the mayor’s feet.
Local media have suggested the incident is related to the committee shuffle, but the mayor, who is vice chair of the planning committee, denies there is any connection.
“That would just be wild and unrelated. Coun. Burgess has been on the committee of adjustment now for past two years and will, I think, make a great contribution to the chair of planning,” Murphy said. “Coun. Nishikawa has brought tremendous experience to planning.”
Murphy said there is no main portfolio, saying planning. finance, community and trails are all important, “and it’s the collective that we as council need to address.”
Burgess, who was previously chair of finance, has also been on the committee of adjustment for two years where he’s dealt with planning applications, minor variances and zoning amendments. He said he’s excited, but it will be a challenge.
“It certainly is probably the busiest position in the whole council because that’s basically what we do in the Township of Muskoka Lakes,” he said. “We do a tremendous amount of planning, whether it’s residential or commercial or new resorts, we’re just always doing planning.”
He said it’s not so much about having the knowledge about planning, but about being able to run a meeting and develop what the key issues are.
Murphy suggested Nishikawa will be able to bring more to the meetings when she is not in position of the chair.
“Being the chair actually doesn’t provide the opportunity to enter into the debate in the fulsome manner that I think would be appropriate,” she said.
The township’s procedural bylaw states the chair may state relevant facts and their positions on any matter, but they may not enter the debate without first leaving the chair.
Nishikawa, who owns a construction company, said her business doesn’t have anything to do with what she does on council and any added insights she may have due to her experience she already brings to the table.
“Anything that I (may) share, I already currently share,” she said.
Nishikawa also stepped away from her involvement with the heritage committee for the municipality, though she said she still plans to be involved with the heritage committee through other groups.
“I think it would be better suited for the chair of planning to be involved. Heritage is, I feel very strongly that it is a planning matter and it’s actually part of planning a community,” she said.
Burgess said he will absolutely step into the heritage committee.
“I’m certainly a major supporter of heritage,” he said. “With my background here in Bala as a descendent of the founder, heritage is very important to me and has been for all my life.”
Other changes in committee chairs include Coun. Don Funriss moving to chair of finance from the chair of administration and Coun. Donelda Kruckel moving to fill the chair of administration from the chair of parks, trails and libraries.
Mayor Alice Murphy remains the chair of visioning, Coun. Phil Harding the chair of economic development and communications, Coun. Ron Brent the chair of roads and infrastructure, Coun. Jean-Ann Baranik chair of community and volunteerism, Coun. Gault McTaggart chair of emergency management and Coun. Allen Edwards chair of committee of adjustment..
Committee changes will come before council for final ratification on Feb. 4.

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