The town of Amherstburg will see some new faces in action for the first time at council Monday night.
Mayor Aldo DiCarlo and now Deputy Mayor Leo Meloche are the lone holdovers from a council DiCarlo says did some great things.
Councillors Peter Courtney, Don McArthur, Michael Prue, Marc Renaud, and Patricia Simone have already gone through orientation leading up to the meeting. Prue would be considered the political veteran having served as mayor of East York from 1993 to 1997 and then served as MPP for the region.
"I think we do have some more experience there, but most of all what I like, with new council members comes new ideas, new perspectives and that's what always gets us into a better position," says DiCarlo.
He says a lot of work has been done over the past four-years cleaning up by-laws and financial burdens that will allow councillors to focus on the future.
"Managed to get through an incredible amount of those issues in four short-years, including getting some money in the bank in reserves," he says.
"I think what's nice for this new council is they don't have to face some of those bigger challenges."
DiCarlo says the team will get to settle in a bit over the holidays before digging into some serious work in the New Year.
"Probably a little more housekeeping and stuff like that. I think we're going to try and get the budget tabled in late December or early January and then they'll need some time to digest that," he says. "That's when all the fun begins."
Administration also went through a learning curve over the past four years and will now be able to help with a smooth transition for incoming councillors, added DiCarlo.
Council starts at 6pm Monday at Amherstburg Town Hall.
— with files from AM800's Zander Broeckel.