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Richmond Hill City Council

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Richmond Hill City Council is the governing body for the Canadian city of Richmond Hill, Ontario. Council serves a four-year term, after which a new council is elected by qualified electors in Richmond Hill.[1] Richmond Hill City Council consists of a Mayor, six Ward Councillors and two Regional and Local Councillors. The mayor and the regional and local councillors additionally serve on the York Regional Council representing the interests of the residents of Richmond Hill.[2]

The mayor serves as the leader of council, presiding over meetings to maintain order, and calling special meetings when needed.[3] The mayor and councillors both propose, oversee the administration and finances of Richmond Hill and direction the operations of the city's departments, as well as meeting with residents and government agencies to discuss issues relevant to Richmond Hill and its residents.[1]

Current council (2022-2026)

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Position Councillor Communities
Mayor David West At-large
Regional & Local/ Deputy Mayor Godwin Chan At-large
Regional & Local Joe DiPaola At-large
Ward 1 Carol Davidson Oak Ridges
Ward 2 Scott Thompson Devonsleigh, Crosby
Ward 3 Castro Liu Rouge Woods, Bayview Hill
Ward 4 Simon Cui Jefferson, Westbrook, Mill Pond
Ward 5 Karen Cilevitz Yongehurst, Richvale, Beverley Acres
Ward 6 Micheal Shiu Observatory, Bayview Glen, Doncrest

Dave Barrow was elected mayor in 2018 but in September 2021, he announced that he would be leaving the position.[4] Deputy mayor Joe Di Paola served as acting mayor after Barrow's resignation until a by-election could be held to elect a permanent replacement. Ward 4 councillor David West won the by-election held from January 18-24th, 2022 and he was sworn in as mayor the following day.[5] Raika Sheppard was appointed by council to fill the vacancy of West's former seat until November 14, 2022.[6]

Municipal departments

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City Council oversees the municipal departments, which deliver a variety of services to the residents of Richmond Hill. The city has a Community Services Department, Corporate & Financial Services Department, Environment & Infrastructure Services Department, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer and Planning & Regulatory Services Department.[7]

The city’s Corporate & Financial Services Department is responsible for providing direction, policy advice and leadership to and through the Financial Services, Information Technology and City Clerk’s Divisions. It provides expert financial, administrative and technical services to ensure supports are in place for internal and external clients and partners.[8]

The Environment & Infrastructure Services Department oversees the design, construction and overall management of the City’s municipal infrastructure and environmental programs. The Department has a strategic focus on the direction and management of environmental services and initiatives that support future needs and interests of the community. The integration of all design and construction projects for facilities, parks, roads, water, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure resides in this Department.[9]

The Chief Administrative Office provides Corporate leadership in the overall management of the City's five departments. In this role, the Chief Administrative Officer reviews and approves all recommendations made to Council and Committees of Council, and manages corporate strategic planning. The Chief Administrative Officer acts as department head to the Legal Division, Human Resources and the Office of Strategic Initiatives.[10]

The Community Services Department delivers the integrated front line services required to provide for an active, attractive, safe and connected community. The department includes Fire & Emergency Services, Parks Operations, Public Works Operations and Recreation & Culture. The Community Services Department is responsible for delivering Fire & Emergency Services programs, maintaining parks, road repair and replacement, garbage & recycling programs, operation of the City's water & wastewater infrastructure, delivery of recreational & cultural programs and managing the city's recreational facilities. The department also runs special events, such as Concerts in the Park and The Reel Thing, a local film festival.[11]

The Community Services Department also runs the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.

The Planning & Regulatory Services Department provides Planning and Building related services to Council, other departments and the general public. Each division within the department has responsibility for various stages and aspects of land development and construction of buildings, as well as the administration of various City by-laws. It responds to the specific needs of Council, the public and the development industry.[12]

History

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Richmond Hill was incorporated as a village in 1873, and the village council consisted of a reeve and four village councillors. The councillors were the top four vote-getters of all persons running for the job. The reeve and councillors served one-year terms. Richmond Hill was incorporated as a town in 1957, and the town council was expanded to include a mayor, a reeve, a deputy reeve and four town councillors. In 1966, the council began to serve two-year terms, rather than the previous one-year terms. The council was reorganised in 1971 after the incorporation of York Region to have a mayor, two regional councillors shared with York Region Council, and six town councillors. 1970 had also seen Richmond Hill expand from 1,700 acres (6.9 km2) to 27,000 acres (110 km2) and from 19000 residents to 34000 residents with the annexation of land from Whitchurch Township, Markham Township, Vaughan Township and King Township.[13] In 1982, the terms of councillors were extended to three years, and in 2006 the terms were extended to four years. In March 2019, Richmond Hill was designated a city.

Abraham Law, the first reeve of Richmond Hill
William Harrison and wife. Harrison was the reeve in 1874
William Trench III, reeve from 1875 - 1879 and 1881 - 1882
John Brown, reeve 1883/1884
Jacob Lunau, reeve 1926 - 1932
Year Reeve Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor
1873[14] Abraham Law Jacob Brillinger David Hopkins William Powell William S. Warren
1874 William Harrison William Atkinson Isaac Crosby John Brown Asa B. Wilson
1875 William Trench III Denis C. O'Brien William Pogue
1876 Peter G. Savage William Powell
1877
1878 James Langstaff Benjamin Redditt
1879 Francis McConaghy
1880 James Langstaff Christopher Duncumb Isaac Crosby William H. Pugsley
1881 William Trench III John H. Sanderson
1882
1883 John Brown Henry F. Hopper Isaac Crosby
1884 Robert E. Law Alexander Moodie
1885 William H. Pugsley Peter G. Savage Francis McConaghy William Powell Benjamin Redditt
1886
1887
1888 William J. Wilson William A. Sanderson William Atkinson
1889
1890
1891
1892 John Brydon Jeremiah Mortson John Palmer
1893 William Atkinson
1894
1895
1896 John H. Sanderson
1897 Peter G. Savage William Innes William A. Wright
1898 David Hill Henry F. Hopper
1899 John Palmer Thomas H. Trench
1900 Reuben W. Glass
1901 William Furey
1902
1903 John P. Glass James Paulin
1904
1905 Isaac Crosby
1906 Isaac Crosby Hesse A. Nicholls John H. Sanderson
1907 William H. Pugsley Edward Barker
1908 David Sloan
1909 Herbert H. Hopper John Palmer
1910 George S. Sims
1911 John Tyndall
1912
1913
1914 John Hickson
1915
1916
1917 Jacob Lunau George A. McDonald Joseph A. Monkman Thomas H. Trench
1918
1919 Thomas H. Trench John A. Greene David Hill
1920
1921 Norman Batty
1922
1923
1924 John A. Greene Robert N. Endean James McLean William H. Pugsley
1925 Jacob Lunau
1926 Jacob Lunau Walter G. Baldock J. Roy Herrington Gordon H. Sloan
1927 James McLean
1928 David Hill A. Chapman[15]
1929 Henry Davis Frederick J. Mansbridge Wesley Middleton Frank E. Sims
1930 Albert Chapman
1931[16] David Hill James McLean Harold Mills Joseph Monkman
1932 J.A. Greene
1933 J.A. Greene Alex Little Wes Middleton James McLean
1934 William Neal
1935 James McLean
1936 Percy Hill
1937 Christian Nelson
1938
1939
1940 Thomas Trench Robert Little Wes Middleton William Neal Dr. J.P. Wilson
1941
1942
1943 J.A. Greene Allan Bales Percy Hills Ralph Paris
1944 William Neal
1945
1946
1947 Cecil Mabley
1948 Percy Hill W.J. Taylor Ken Tomlin
1949
1950 J.A. Greene[Note 1] Floyd Perkins
1951 Ken Tomlin
1952 W.J. Taylor Jack Rice
1953
1954 Harold Jones
1955
1956 Donald Plaxton
In 1957, with the incorporation of Richmond Hill as a town, the positions of Mayor and Deputy Reeve were added to the council
Year Mayor Reeve Deputy Reeve Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor
1957 William Neal W.J. Taylor Floyd Perkins James Haggart Harold Jones Donald Plaxton Stanley Tinker
1958 Ken Tomlin Donald Plaxton James Bradstock Joseph Patterson
1959 Floyd Perkins Stanley Tinker Robert Ross
1960 James Haggart Thomas Broadhurst Margaret Southwell Howard Whillans
1961 James Haggart Floyd Perkins John Bradstock Alan White
1962 Thomas Broadhurst Alex Campbell John MacDiarmid
1963 William Neal Stanley Tinker Thomas Murphy Walter Scudds
1964 Thomas Broadhurst James Haggart Lois Hancey William Lazenby Robert Saunders
1965 Donald Plaxton Floyd Perkins Eric Handbury
1966/67 John MacDiarmid Ivan Mansbridge
1968/69
1970 William Lazenby Ivan Mansbridge Shaun Beggs Eric George David Schiller
In 1971, with the incorporation of York Region, the council was again reorganised.
Year Mayor Regional Councillor Regional Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor
1971/72 William Lazenby Donald Plaxton Gordon Rowe Shaun Beggs Stewart Bell Andrew Chateauvert Lois Hancey David Schiller Lou Wainwright
1973/74 Lois Hancey William Corcoran Graeme Bales David Stephenson Charles Stewart
1975/76 David Schiller John Birchall Marylo Graham Mike Burnie Al Duffy
1977/78 Lou Wainwright
1979/80 Gordon Rowe David Amos David Barrow
1981/82 Al Duffy Lois Hancey Doug Smith Bill Bell Bob Cage Frank Gallant
1982-85
1985-88 Tom Simpson Gail Blackburn Bryon Wilfert
1988-91 Bill Bell[17] Frank Endean Janet Mabley David Cohen[18] Catherine Bishop
1991-94 Gail Blackburn Isabelle Gargarella Jane Robertson
1994-97 Janet Mabley Vito Spatafora[19] Brenda Hogg Nick Papa[20]
1997-00 David Barrow[21] David Bishop Joe DiPaola[22]
2000-03 Brenda Hogg Arnie Warner[23] Lynn Foster
2003-06[24] Elio Di Iorio
2006-10 David Barrow[Note 2] Vito Spatafora Greg Beros Nick Papa Godwin Chan
2010-14 Carmine Perrelli Castro Liu
2014-18 Tom Muench David West[Note 3] Karen Cilevitz
2018-22 Joe DiPaola Carmine Perrelli
2021-2022 Joe DiPaola (Acting) Raika Sheppard (From March 22, 2022 - Nov 15, 2022)
2022-26 David West Godwin Chan Carol Davidson Scott Thompson Simon Cui Micheal Shiu

Deputy Mayor

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  • Vito Spatafora - 2006-2018
  • Carmine Perrelli - 2018-2021 (Council in Sept 2021 decided to have one Deputy Mayor instead of Two)
  • Joe DiPaola - 2018-2022 (Sole Deputy Mayor from Sept 2021 - Nov 2022, served as Acting Mayor from February 2021 to January 2022 during Dave Barrow's leave of absence and eventual resignation until David West was elected in the Jan 2022 by-election)
  • Godwin Chan - 2022–Present

Notes

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  1. ^ Greene died in January 1951, and William Neal was elected reeve in February 1951.
  2. ^ Barrow retired from council on September 15, 2021. A by-election was held on January 18–24, 2022 where Ward 4 Councillor David West was elected as mayor. West will be mayor for the remainder of the term until the next election in October 2022.
  3. ^ Vacant as of January 25, 2022. West was elected as mayor in a by-election and vacated his Ward 4 seat.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Members of Council". City of Richmond Hill.
  2. ^ "Council Members". York Region.
  3. ^ "Mayor of Richmond Hill". City of Richmond Hill.
  4. ^ Freeman, Joshua (September 14, 2021). "Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow says he is stepping down". CTV News Toronto. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "Certified Candidates". www.richmondhill.ca. 2021-12-20. Archived from the original on 2021-12-15. Retrieved 2021-12-29.
  6. ^ "Richmond Hill Council Appoints Ward 4 Councillor". City of Richmond Hill. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  7. ^ "Departments". City of Richmond Hill.
  8. ^ "Corporate & Financial Services Department". City of Richmond Hill.
  9. ^ "Environment & Infrastructure Services Department". City of Richmond Hill.
  10. ^ "Office of the Chief Administrative Officer". City of Richmond Hill.
  11. ^ "Community Services Department". City of Richmond Hill.
  12. ^ "Planning & Development Department". City of Richmond Hill.
  13. ^ Marney Beck Robinson and Joan M. Clark (2000). The Challenging Seventies. City of Richmond Hill/Richmond Hill Public Library Board. ISBN 0-9695376-1-1. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  14. ^ Robert M. Stamp (1991). "Appendix F. Community Organizations". Early Days in Richmond Hill - A History of the Community to 1930. City of Richmond Hill Public Library.
  15. ^ J. Roy Herrington occupied this seat until February 28, 1928
  16. ^ Marney Beck Robinson and Joan M. Clark (1999). Later Days in Richmond Hill - A History of the Community from 1930 to 1999. City of Richmond Hill/Richmond Hill Public Library Board. ISBN 0-9695376-1-1.
  17. ^ Courtney Paoletti, Andrei Zaretski and Neil Springer. "Mayoral Race". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  18. ^ "Profile of Councillor David L. Cohen".
  19. ^ "Biography". Vito Spatafora.
  20. ^ "Return Nick Papa councillor for Ward 5" (PDF). Chief Financial Officer for the Nick Papa Election Campaign.
  21. ^ "Dave Barrow Profile" (PDF).
  22. ^ "Joe Di Paola - Conservative". Rogers Television.
  23. ^ "About Arnie".
  24. ^ "Official Municipal Election Results for the Town of Richmond Hill". City of Richmond Hill. 12 November 2003.
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