Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis receives a key to the city from Windsor's new Mayor-elect Drew Dilkens, November 17, 2014. (photo by Mike Vlasveld)Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis receives a key to the city from Windsor's new Mayor-elect Drew Dilkens, November 17, 2014. (photo by Mike Vlasveld)
Windsor

Council Enjoys Final Meeting

The time for Windsor's new council to step in is getting closer, as out-going councillors and Mayor Eddie Francis enjoyed their final meeting.

Francis was elected to council 15 years ago, and elected as mayor four years after that. He's interested to see what the new council will bring to the table, but says you won't hear him talking about them and their decisions. "What normally happens when politicians step aside is they become critics all of the sudden. I'm not an armchair quarterback. If I wanted to quarterback, I would have stayed in that chair."

Ward 2's Ron Jones, who's served on council since 2002, says it's been a great ride. "There were no easy decisions. It was hard work. Sometimes we (council) had to make decisions that were not popular with the people."

In his 17 years on council, Ward 4's Alan Halberstadt says he played a role which often isolated him from other councillors, but he wouldn't have changed a thing. "In the end, there were some kind words exchanged tonight, and no animosities and no pettiness. So that was a good way to go out."

Others councillors leaving their seats include Al Magneigh and long-time councillor Fulvio Valentinis.

Windsor's new city council will be sworn in on December 1.

Windsors out-going councillors (from left to right) Fulvio Valentinis, Ron Jones, Alan Halberstadt and Al Magneigh, receiving keys to the city at their final council meeting, November 17, 2014. (photo by Mike Vlasveld) Windsors out-going councillors (from left to right) Fulvio Valentinis, Ron Jones, Alan Halberstadt and Al Magneigh, receiving keys to the city at their final council meeting, November 17, 2014. (photo by Mike Vlasveld)

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