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Governing Officials - Then and Now
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Our Governing Officials
The organization of Paisley as an urban municipality took place in Graham's Hall on the 19th of January 1874 when the council for the newly incorporated village met. This council was: Reeve James Saunders, Councillors Duncan Fisher, Alexander Colborne, Wm. M. Smith and Robert Porteous. After making the necessary declaration of office, they adjourned to meet in Hannas's hotel on the same evening. The first clerk appointed was E. Saunders. The first petition presented to the council was one from J.E. Fenton and others, praying them to appoint a weed inspector. It was held over for further consideration. Mr. John McKechnie was appointed licence inspector for the corporation at a salary of $5.00. The first auditors were Neil McKechnie and Arch. McDougall. At the next council meeting one week later, at Johnston's hotel, four applications for the office of village constable were submitted. Mr. Duncan McGregor, senior, addressed the council on the vexing subject of the overflow of the Willow Creek. The first treasurer, Mr. E. Saunders was appointed at a meeting in Chamber's hotel. His salary was $30.00. The first constable was W.W. Hogg who was appointed at a meeting in Maher's hotel. His salary was $15.00. The first assessor was Neil McKechnie who had to resign his position as auditor to accept the office which paid $40.00, In this, the first year of operation, the council granted tavern licences to eight proprietors. Two shop licences were also granted. In March 1874, by-law No. 11 for the government of public morals was read and passed. At the same meeting a by-law was passed “for the prevention of fires and the regulation of chimneys.” The next year, August 1875, a special committee was appointed to look up a site and ascertain the cost of building a Town Hall. A bargain was struck with Wm. Anstead to build it on its present site for $3571.00. The town bell was purchased from Troy, N.]. A mammoth concert was organized to celebrate the completion, and on March 20, 1876, council met for the first time in the Town Hall. In March 1874, by-law No. 11 for the government of public morals was read and passed. At the same meeting a by-law was passed “for the prevention of fires and the regulation of chimneys.” The next year, August 1875, a special committee was appointed to look up a site and ascertain the cost of building a Town Hall. A bargain was struck with Wm. Anstead to build it on its present site for $3571.00. The town bell was purchased from Troy, N.]. A mammoth concert was organized to celebrate the completion, and on March 20, 1876, council met for the first time in the Town Hall.
These are the reeves that served the village since 1874:
*Served two separate terms as reeve. Of the above-named reeves, three of them served as Warden of the County of Bruce: |
Such were some of the problems that beset the first Council. Passing on one hundred years, the council meetings of January 1974 inform us that: Employees of the works department pointed out that statistics reveal that living costs are up 18 per cent, and asked for increases of “not less than 15 per cent”. Increases to $2.80 per hour for Lester Leeson and $2.00 per hour for Mrs. Margit Sukstorf were approved and the situation with supervisor Walter Spong will be reviewed. Councillor Anderson reported that the problem of water flowing from the arena to Church Street, where it created a traffic hazard, had been remedied by directing the water to a ditch. Property chairman Lewis Coffman told his colleagues that the Community Centre Board required replacements for the position of secretary-treasurer, and for vacancies on the Board. Council will seek new members to fill the vacancies and may introduce longer terms of office for members, on a rotating basis. Appointments approved by council are, George Grant to the County of Bruce Hospital Board, Reeve Andy Cormack to the Saugeen Conservation Authority, and councillor Ralph Anderson to the Fire Area Committee. Councillor Coffman was appointed as a replacement on County Council for Reeve Cormack if the latter is unable to attend sessions of the county body. Councillor Robert Cottrill told council that two commemorative plaques will be erected in the village during Centennial year. The Samuel T. Rowe plaque is being presented by a great granddaughter, Mrs. Mabel Rundle of Oshawa. (The late Mr. Rowe was the second settler in Paisley). The Isabella Valancy Crawford memorial will be erected by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario. (The late Miss Crawford, daughter of the first doctor to reside in Paisley, achieved a merited reputation in the field of Canadian Literature). By-laws were passed confirming the dates for the collection of municipal taxes as the 15th of March, june, September and November; to establish a plan for the co-ordination of municipal services in the event of disaster in the village, and to authorize borrowing up to $95,000 by the village for current expenditures until taxes are collected. A follow-up to this meeting was held on January 21 to complete unfinished business. Council established a new schedule of pay for members. Councillors will receive $25 for regular and special meetings and $5 for each committee meeting. Allowances for use of their cars were set at $200 for the reeve and $100 for councillors, with an additional 15 cents per mile. The village's representative on the Hospital Board will receive $20 and mileage for each meeting attended. With impending sewer installation and housing development, councillors will face increased demands on their time in the coming year. Clerk Ellis was instructed to prepare a by-law for presentation at the next meeting of council, extending to a full year the ban on dogs running at large in the municipality. An animal control officer may be engaged. Complying with a request from the Community Centre Board that a member of the municipal office staff be appointed secretary-treasurer, Mrs. Werner Sukstorf was named to the position. A survey of street lighting will be made with possible relocation of some existing lights, and special lighting for the Centennial.
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Will History Repeat Itself?
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Reeve Andrew Bell Cormack, born in Elderslie Twp. the son of the late Harold S. Cormack and the late Della Bell Cormack. Andy received his education at the Paisley Public and Continuation Schools. He is married to the former Verna McGregor and has a family of two boys and three girls. Andy has always been interested in Local Politics, having served on the Board of the Paisley Public School as a member and also served as Chairman. Andy was also Chairman of the Paisley, Elderslie, Brant and Greenock Area School Board, before becoming a member of the Local Council. He is now in his second term as Reeve and a member of the Bruce County Council where he is on the Bruce County Museum Committee. Andy owned and operated a livestock trucking business for a number of years and presently he is farming and is a real estate salesman. Ralph C. Anderson, born in Nassagawaya (a township south of Guelph). He was educated in Guelph Public & High School, as well as attending the University of Toronto College of Pharmacy where he obtained a degree of Phm.B. He has served 4 years in R.C.A.M.C. He worked as a pharmacist in Guelph and as a Pharmacist Manager forLiggetts and Tamblyn Drug Stores in Toronto. He was elected to council in November 1960 for the year 1961 and has continued to hold the office of councillor to the present. Ralph was married in 1945 and he and his wife Eileen have two children, Kenneth married, and residing in Kitchener, and a daughter Patricia, who is a student at the University of Toronto in the Faculty of Pharmacy. |
D. Lewis Coffman, born near Beamsville Ontario, and received his early education there. In 1955 he graduated from Hamilton Teachers' College, and accepted a position as Principal of Wellandport Public School. He came to Paisley from the Niagara Peninsula in 1959 as Principal of Paisley Public School. After serving in that capacity for 5 years, he was appointed as Principal of Elderslie Central School at Chesley. In 1969, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Waterloo Lutheran University. At the present time, he is serving his first term as Councillor. During his 15 years in Paisley, he has been actively involved in community and church affairs. He is married, with 4 children, and his hobbies include music, canoeing, camping and gardening.
Robert Parker Cottrill was born in Paisley in 1944. He is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Charles William (Bill) Cottrill. Bob attended Paisley Public School and Walkerton District High School. He is presently employed with Hydro at the Bruce Generating Station. Bob Cottrill began his role as councillor in 1972. Since he has lived in Paisley most of his Iife and he has a sincere interest in the future of his community.
Ken McKenzie was born in Owen Sound. He attended Victoria Public School and Owen Sound Collegiate. Mr. McKenzie moved to Paisley and worked with his father on the Advocate staff until the business was sold in 1973. He is married to the former Faye Martin and has two children. His interests are softball and hockey. Mr. McKenzie is serving his second term on council. |
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