Outgoing Councillors Honoured at Final Oxford County Council Meeting

Thursday, 10 November 2022 at 10:43

By Marcie Culbert

It was an emotional final meeting for the 2018-2022 Oxford County Council. Six members will be leaving with a combined 94 years of experience.

OXFORD COUNTY - That's a wrap for the 2018/2022 Oxford County Council.

They had their last meeting yesterday, where they bid farewell to their six outgoing councillors; City-County Councillor Sandra Talbot, Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch, Tillsonburg Mayor Stephen Molnar, Ingersoll Mayor Ted Comiskey and Norwich Mayor and Oxford County Warden Larry Martin. Connie Lauder was also honoured for her time filling in as a County Council alternate over the past few months.

Warden Larry Martin says all of the outgoing councillors have 94 years of experience combined.

"When you look at Sandra Talbot with 29 years and Don McKay with 22 years, that puts you up there pretty quick. Then you have Stephen Molnar with 15, Ted Comiskey with 12 and myself and Mayor Birtch with 8 years. We were the junior ones there I guess you could say, but there is a vast amount of experience that will be going out the door at the end of this term."

Martin says this council went through a lot over the past term including the regional review, the search for a new CAO and the COVID-19 pandemic.

He has some advice for the new council that will be sworn in on November 23rd.

"The meetings are only the tip of the iceberg as far as the time spent. There are phone calls, e-mails and public engagements all involved in this. It's a very busy time but I am sure that they will rise to the occasion. The biggest thing is just be yourself and do your best."

Martin is not sure what the future has in store for him at this time.

"I've sent in applications to sit on some committees because I just can't quit cold turkey. I have been at this for so long now, I kind of have to phase my way out. If I get appointments, I get appointments and if I don't, then it's not the end of the world. I do live on a farm and there's always something to do there."

Martin has been involved in local politics since 1942 and he did not run for re-election this year.

Norwich Mayor and Oxford County Warden Larry Martin served on Oxford County Council for eight years. (Photo Credit: Oxford County)

City-County Councillor Sandra Talbot served on Oxford County Council for 29 years. (Photo Credit: Oxford County)

Tillsonburg Mayor Stephen Molnar served on Oxford County Council for 15 years. (Photo Credit: Oxford County)

Ingersoll Mayor Ted Comiskey served on Oxford County Council for 12 years. (Photo Credit: Oxford County)

Acting Mayor Connie Lauder served as a Oxford County Council alternate for Woodstock during this term of Council. (Photo Credit: Oxford County)

*Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch and East Zorra-Tavistock Mayor Don McKay did not attend the Council meeting, so they will receive their plaques at another time.