One Fellow Down: Who Should Replace Saccary on the Port Board?

The CBRM municipal election resulted in two strong incumbent councillors getting knocked off. One councillor's defeat now creates an immediate need for a replacement on the Port of Sydney Development Corporation Board.

Lowell Cormier in District 11 was outworked and soundly defeated by the young Kendra Coombes. In District 8, Kevin Saccary was taught a lesson the hard way. Getting cocky and interfering with major development projects in his own district opened up the margins for freshman Councillor Amanda McDougall to send him packing.

Saccary No Longer Has Any Qualifications for the Port Board

The corporate articles for the Port of Sydney Dev Corp forbid elected officials from serving. Nonetheless, the CBRM lawyers added in enough legalese to allow the mayor and four councillors to take on the roles to get started. Though Mayor Clarke stated the interim board was to be replaced (here), at the port annual general meeting it was among the items in the agenda noted as "not required".

"Clarke added the plan is to move from the corporation’s interim board to a publicly appointed board by the fall." - Cape Breton Post, June 2015 (aka summer) [Source]

 

Saccary's loss of his council seat now means that he doesn't meet the eligibility for the interim council, nor does he meet the professional designations described in the articles for the replacement board.

So it's time for the Port of Sydney Development Corporation Board to demonstrate that it respects the will of voting taxpayers, and is not a fully lame duck board. Swift action of a new board appointment will be their first significant achievement.

Who Should Replace Saccary?

With the port corp taking a leading role in deals with values suggested as high as $1.6 Billion, it would be good idea to get a professional board in place. It certainly isn't the mayor and four councillors, none of which have any business experience to speak of.

However, this advice has repeatedly fallen on the deaf ears of those in comfortable board seats. Mayor Clarke seemed more intent on hosting a retreat for the board than replacing them with qualified individuals.


We have some better options in the political sphere, though the port articles didn't make it an option in the articles for the interim board. First Nations chiefs Terry Paul (Membertou) and Leroy Denny (Eskasoni) were important enough for the mayor to use in glossy photos on his reelection materials, but weren't extended the courtesy of a seat.

Also excluded: the Province of Nova Scotia. The port corp expects the province to pay ~$6.7 Million to fund a second berth, but didn't feel that Minister Geoff MacLellan should share a seat with the board either. Instead, it was filled up with councillors who could have little to no impact, and a Progressive Conservative mayor whose friends are no longer controlling the Federal or Provincial purse strings. Also known as: really bad strategy.

So if the chiefs and provincial ministers were shunned, perhaps the immediate replacement needs to be another councillor?

Amanda McDougall, District 8: McDougall may be the obvious choice. She defeated Councillor Saccary who held the board seat position. She's also not a part of the Clarke yes-men alliance.

Eldon MacDonald, District 5: A good question is why Eldon MacDonald wasn't on the port board to begin with? After all, the main project with any path to viability at present is the second berth. The Joan Harriss Pavilion and the berth(s) are in his District. I asked Councillor MacDonald why on goCapeBreton about a week ago and did not get an answer. As it turns out, from further research, he wasn't nominated. Instead, he nominated Ray Paruch for the role. Jim MacLeod won by: secret ballot.

Kevin Saccary should resign or be removed from the board by vote.

The best choice is likely Amanda McDougall. She can bring a fresh perspective. Eldon MacDonald has already worked with the other three councillors and the mayor. He may not be the fresh set of eyes that the voters brought to council. This may be a valuable test of the new council dynamic.

Let's see if the Port of Sydney Development Corporation is going to make the right move, or continue bending the rules. Ultimately, holding out on getting qualified board members appointed is only to their own detriment. It will continue to be a part of the legacy of everyone involved.

To the extent that it negatively impacts the progress of port projects, it'll contribute to a poor report card for the hand picked port CEO and the mayor who did the picking. And Clarke definitely has to get his resume in order for his next run for a return to MLA (trying to displace new MLA, Mombo), or trying to head to Ottawa by hoping Eyking follows through with suggestions of his retirement from office.

He first gift to his supporters on the day of him sneaking by Rankin with the help of a storm (and shaking hands at polling stations) was to let them know he would be calling it quits after this term. And the speculation is now that he'll be calling it quits to run elsewhere if he could manage to close the deal on a single significant achievement.

"I'm not reoffering as mayor" - Mayor Cecil Clarke, October 15th, 2016 - Election victory speech to supporters [Source]

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https://capebreton.lokol.me/one-fellow-down-who-should-replace-saccary-on-the-port-board
Who will replace defeated CBRM Councillor Kevin Saccary on the Port of Sydney Development Corporation Board? Here are some options.
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