Woodstock Mayor to Bring Motion Asking for Counillor Talbot to be Removed From Health Board

Sunday, 17 January 2021 10:00

“This ill advised decision reflects badly on the entire councils of both the City and Oxford County. Why should people follow the advice of the Public Health when it comes to trying to control this pandemic when a Board member won’t.”

WOODSTOCK - Woodstock Mayor Trevor Birtch has issued a statement regarding a recent Caribbean vacation by Woodstock City and Oxford County councillor Sandra Talbot.

Mayor Birtch says he cannot Fathom Talbot's reasoning to travel right now, while so many others are being told to stay home.

“Councillor Talbot may not have broken the letter of the law but she sure stomped on the spirit of it. She sat in on meetings where the decision was made to advise people to avoid any unnecessary travel, but she decided the rules do not apply to her."

Birtch says these are the kind of actions that make the public lose faith in elected officials.

“She has added fuel to the fire of disdain people have of elected officials. This ill advised decision reflects badly on the entire councils of both the City and Oxford County. Why should people follow the advice of the Public Health when it comes to trying to control this pandemic when a Board member won’t.”

Birtch plans to bring forward a motion asking County council to review Councillor’s conduct and contemplate rescinding her appointment to the Board. He adds that Councillor Talbot has lost all credibility and her continued presence on the Board will serve to undermine any further actions it may take.

“This display will not deter the rest of City Council and City staff from proceeding in its work. The rest of Council is united in its determination to provide the best governance for the citizens of the 'Friendly City'. Despite Councillor Talbot’s actions, we continue to ask people to follow the recommendations of Southwest Public Health and we will continue to do all we can until this scourge is brought under control and we can look forward to returning to some sort of normalcy.”

Birtch notes there is very little Woodstock City council can do when it comes to the actions of a Councillor and reasons to remove a Councillor are very limited.