Morrin Village Councillor Dr. Robert Graham has decided to retire from the post less than two years following an election.
Graham tells the Mail he tendered his resignation last week, prior to a Special Meeting that was called for Thursday, May 23, the second of its kind this month. He says one of the reasons is his professional obligations.
“There is a lot of interference with my medical work,” he tells the Mail.
He says often meetings are at the same time that he is in the operating room.
“My priorities are with medicine. I am not yet retired. For me to make that commitment and cancel operations to go to meetings that they announce three days before, I can’t plan things that quickly for the operating room.”
He also tells the Mail that he felt his voice was being lost at the council table. Morrin has a town council of three including Mayor Howard Helton and M’Liss Edwards.
“It’s two against one as well, their philosophy or things they want to do, I am not always totally comfortable with it,” he said. ”If they pass it, I have to be 100 per cent supportive, so that is hard to do when you are not agreeing with what they want to do.”
“Even if I stayed then I would be powerless to change anything.”
One contentious issue facing Morrin Village Council is the subject of the retirement of CAO Annette Plachner. At the May 14 Council Meeting Councillor Graham presented retirement packages for the CAO who is expected to retire in the near future. She has been with the village for about 35 years.
Mayor Howard Helton had some issues with the accuracy of some of the information provided and brought up the idea of asking residents their view through a survey in the utility bill.
“Do we poll the utility bill?” asked Mayor Helton. “We are polling all kinds of things in the utility bill, sharing the participation of the village.”
Councillor Graham made the motion to poll the community with suggested retirement packages. Councillor Graham and Edwards voted in favour, Mayor Helton voted against the motion.
At the Thursday, May 23 special meeting Council rescinded the motion to poll the community regarding the CAO retirement, and then following an in camera session council moved to consult a lawyer.
Graham wishes council the best.
“I really like the Village of Morrin, I have made good friends here and it has been a great place for us,” said Graham. “I hope they are able to do good for our village.”
