Cramahe Mayor Takes Over as County Warden

Both were nominated by outgoing Warden and Trent Hills Mayor Bob Crate who served for two terms.

“I look forward to supporting her going down the road,” Crate said of Martin.

About Ostrander, Crate said he is a “very dedicated and knowledgeable councillor” with whom he has worked with during the past term of office.

Local riding MP Philip Lawrence sent a brief video extending his greetings and desire to work with county councillors in the future.

At its short conclusion, Warden Martin brought a laugh from those in the council chambers when she said: “That was perky.”

When his provincial counterpart, MPP David Piccini, came to the front of the council chambers to address council, Martin told him Council members appreciated the government representative for the Northumberland-Peterborough showing up. Piccini said he’s enjoyed working with county council in the past, naming the outgoing warden specifically, and looking forward to doing more with the new council. He particularly noted high speed internet and accessing funding for critical infrastructure. His comments, unlike those of Lawrence, drew applause.

“I was 17 when I first started covering county council,” Martin said when she took the podium for her initial address in her new position. Looking to the back wall of the county council chambers covered in photos of past wardens, she said, now at age 70, she knew most of those people and counted some as friends.

“I feel the weight of this,” she said of her newly acclaimed position. “I’m committed to Northumberland.”

Martin thanked Crate for his work on behalf of Northumberland, calling him a “dedicated champion.”

Looking ahead, she said that “collectively” councillors bring experience, innovation and enthusiasm to the table, adding that “these are challenging and uncertain times.”

Northumberland County council and staff are already working to address major issues from affordable housing to attracting much needed labour for businesses at a time where inflation is at a 40-year high and interest rates the highest in 15 years, she said.

Going forward council will continue to listen to people and partner with those organizations with similar goals, Martin continued.

“I’m a firm believer in the power of collaboration.”

Some of those successful collaborations she cited as the community para-medicine program, the Food 4 All warehouse and green lands protection involving First Nations and others through the Rice Lake Plains conservation initiatives.

Housing partnerships are likewise “critical” with over 1,000 households on the affordable housing wait list, the new warden said.

She also noted that at this time there are 85 county vacancies as staff and council leaders seek to fill them with the best candidates for the job.

Rapid changes are coming from upper levels of government and lower government levels have to move quickly to evaluate these and respond, Martin said.

“Working as a team” the county and staff can meet the challenge ahead, she summed up.

The members of the 2022—2026 Northumberland County Council include:

· Lucas Cleveland, Mayor, Town of Cobourg

· Bob Crate, Mayor, Municipality of Trent Hills

· Olena Hankivsky, Mayor, Municipality of Port Hope

· Scott Jibb, Mayor, Township of Hamilton

· John Logel, Mayor, Township of Alnwick/Haldimand

· Mandy Martin, Mayor, Township of Cramahe

· Brian Ostrander, Mayor, Municipality of Brighton

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