Central Frontenac Clerk, Councillor and the Mayor to take the plunge?

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Craig Bakay

EMC News The challenge is official.

Following a report for Heritage Festival organizer Mike Procter about some of the new and returning events at the upcoming end-of-February festival this year, new Clerk/CAO Shawn Trepanier said he is prepared to represent the Township in the annual Polar Bear Plunge, as long as a member of Council accompanied him.

Intrepid Coun. Jeff Matson picked up the challenge and offered one of his own: he'll plunge if Mayor Janet Gutowski will also.

Although somewhat non-committal, as politicians are wont to do, Her Worship did suggest she might be persuaded to jump in a frozen lake as a public service. After all, proceeds from the Plunge go to the youth programs of Northern Frontenac Community Services.

Indeed, local businesses are already lining up behind the proposal to dunk the Mayor, with publisher Jeff Green of the Frontenac News putting up a match-challenge of $100 to other business owners if the CF3 actually don't chicken out and join the plungers.

(Anyone who knows Green knows how tough it is to get him to part with a buck, so this must be important.)

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After eight years in the job, Central Frontenac Fire Chief Mark MacDonald gave his "last fire department report to Council" at the regular meeting last week in Sharbot Lake.

MacDonald has accepted a position as deputy fire chief in Belleville (where he has also held a job as captain while serving as Central Frontenac Chief), which will place too many demands on his time to continue as Central's top firefighter.

"It was a difficult decision as Central Frontenac Fire & Rescue has been an integral part of my life for the past eight years," a visibly emotional MacDonald told Council. "I've received far more from Central Frontenac Township than I gave and I'm certain the experience I gained here got me the promotion in Belleville."

MacDonald said the thing he's proudest of during his tenure here was creating a department and facilities that firefighters would want to join and participate in, especially training facilities.

MacDonald said he hoped Council would see a need for continuity in that respect and recommended either of his two deputy chiefs, Art Cowdy or Bill Young, as his replacement.

No firm date has been set for MacDonald's departure but his resignation has been accepted, with regret, by Council.