Coun. Robert Thomson has been tapped as Barrie’s new deputy mayor.
City councillors will consider initial approval Wednesday night of a motion to appoint Thomson deputy mayor for the 2022-26 term of office.
Thomson said it’s an honour to be selected, that new Mayor Alex Nuttall would have this level of confidence in him, and that he brings something valuable to the table.
“I’m a great team-builder, I can draw people together,” said Thomson, 47. “I think that’s something that will be needed. I think that’s the skill-set that I really bring to the table, collaborating well with others.”
Nuttall also selected Thomson for the position based on his ability to foster a culture of co-operation with council colleagues and on his intimate knowledge of the corporation, says a city staff report.
Nuttall says Thomson’s responsibilities as deputy mayor for this term of council would include attending events on behalf of the mayor, maintaining an active working role on council’s strategic priorities, assisting the mayor and council to advance special projects or initiatives supportive by council’s direction and acting as chairman of general committee, or presiding over city council meetings in Nuttall’s absence or in the case of the mayor declaring a conflict of interest.
“I think it’s all going to come down to what the mayor needs, (like) if the mayor is double-booked,” Thomson said. “I’ll spend a lot of time at it because I try to do everything to the best of my ability, no matter what it is.”
Thomson would assume the position from Barry Ward, who served as deputy mayor for the last four years. Ward ran for mayor after 22 years as Ward 4 councillor and placed second to Nuttall.
“Barry was a great deputy mayor,” said Thomson, who runs a construction company by profession. “They will be big shoes to fill.”
This is Thomson’s second term on city council. He was acclaimed as Barrie's Ward 5 councillor in the Oct. 24 municipal election.
For this term of office, Barrie councillors each receive an annual base salary of $40,983. The deputy mayor receives an extra $7,500 each year, plus an annual car allowance of $3,600.
Councillors will also consider interim appointments Wednesday to various boards and committees until their permanent structure is determined for the 2022-26 term of council. A more comprehensive report on committees will be presented following council’s strategic planning session, scheduled for Dec. 3, 2022.
But councillors will consider a number of interim appointments at this week’s general committee meeting.
Thomson and Nuttall would also serve as council’s representatives on the Barrie Police Services Board, as well as the Simcoe County Housing Corporation’s board of directors and the Barrie Chamber of Commerce.
This would be Thomson’s second stint on the police board.
The mayor normally sits on a number of boards and committees, and Nuttall is to be no exception.
In addition to the positions listed above, Nuttall would sit as council’s representative on the County of Simcoe’s performance management committee (archives and museums), the Royal Victoria Regional Health Care Foundation and the Royal Victoria Regional Health Care capital expansion advisory committee, which includes planning for the RVH expansion and the new south campus in Innisfil.
The city will be asked to contribute to the capital cost of this project.
Nuttall will also represent council, along with Coun. Ann-Marie Kungl, on the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, and with Kungl, Couns. Clare Riepma and Nigussie Nigussie on the County of Simcoe human services committee.
Coun. Sergio Morales, who's in his third term as Ward 9 councillor, would be council’s representative on the Lake Simcoe Regional Airport corporate board, on Barrie Public Library along with Coun. Amy Courser, and on the board for Sandbox, a downtown location for entrepreneurs to meet, learn and mentor.
Coun. Gary Harvey would be council’s representative on the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority, the physician recruitment task force and Tourism Barrie.
Thomson and Courser would sit on the public art committee, Kungl on the County of Simcoe’s affordable housing advisory committee.
Coun. Craig Nixon, who represents Ward 2, would sit on the Downtown Business Association (BIA) board, while Coun. Bryn Hamilton and Riepma would represent council with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority.
Coun. Jim Harris and Nixon would represent council with the MacLaren Art Centre.
