Given the internal strife of Council, it came as no surprise as the all-male “Grimsby 5” or “Gang of 5”, which seems a more appropriate moniker given their collective agenda and bloc voting, overrode the recent election of the Heritage Committee’s new Chairperson.
At the January 23, 2020 meeting of the committee, the following resolution regarding the annual election of the Chair and Vice-Chair was approved by the Committee:
GH-20-1
Moved by J. Dunstall; Seconded by K. Sharrow;
Resolved, that Dorothy Bothwell is elected as chair of the Heritage Grimsby Advisory Committee for the year 2020.
CARRIED
At tonight’s Council meeting, in what appears to be a pre-planned and co-ordinated action, the group approved a motion to replace the duly-elected Chair, Councillor Bothwell, with a member of their new “Old Boys’ Club”, Councillor Dunstall.
It is interesting to note that Councillor Dunstall moved that original motion to elect Councillor Bothwell as the Heritage Committee’s Chair.
But after what he describes as “considerable thought”, he wanted or perhaps was urged by his confederates to “throw (his) hat in the ring to be considered as Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee” by lifting the matter at Council.
The substantive portion of the motion was as follows:
Moved by Councillor Vaine; Seconded by Councillor Kadwell;
Resolved, that resolution GH-20-01 of the Heritage Grimsby Advisory Committee meeting minutes of January 23, 2020 be approved as amended to read:
“Resolved that John Dunstall is elected as Chair of the Heritage Grimsby Advisory Committee for the year 2020…“
Councillor Vardy asked for a recorded vote on the matter.
How Did They Vote?
| YEAS - SUPPORTED THE REPLACEMENT | ||
|---|---|---|
 Councillor Ritchie Ward 1 |  Councillor Kadwell Ward 2 |  Councillor Dunstall Ward 3 |
 Councillor Vaine Ward 3 |  Councillor Sharpe Ward 4 | |
| NAYS - SUPPORTED THE HERITAGE COMMITTEE'S SELECTION | ||
|---|---|---|
 Mayor Jordan |  Councillor Freake Ward 1 |  Councillor Vardy Ward 2 |
 Councillor Bothwell Ward 4 | ||
Source: Personal Notes/Town of Grimsby Livestream
The motion was carried. You can view the whole discussion and disappointing turn of events in the video archive of the meeting, starting at 35:45 at:
https://vimeo.com/392328132
Now, if you think this was outrageous, just read the motion put on the table for the next meeting of Council in March by clicking here. Obey!