Brampton - It was a night of pipes, drums and celebration as the City of Brampton's 2006 inaugural meeting was called to order for the swearing in of the new city council, including newly elected members John Sanderson and Vicky Dhillon.

All other incumbents, included Mayor Susan Fennell, retained their seats in the recent municipal election.

"Here ye! Here ye!" yelled Town Crier Peter Murphy. "In 1853, the village of Brampton's council met for the first time, as did the new counsel for the Town of Brampton in 1873. 100 years later, the City of Brampton's counsel held its inaugural meeting. Tonight, within our majestic Rose Theatre, the tradition continues."

After being led onto the Rose Theatre's stage by the Brampton Fire Guard and members from the Knights of Columbus, Fennell said her most proud accomplishment was the Official Plan blueprint that lays out the future of the city in terms of growth and infrastructure. It included a residential development cap of 5,500 units per year.

"Through the province of Ontario's Places To Grow policy, Brampton has been identified as a growth city," said Fennell. "In fact, through this provincial policy, Brampton has been projected to grow its population from the current approximately 460,000 to a projected 725,000 by 2031."

With legislation also requiring the Region of Peel to manage 40 per cent of its growth through intensification by 2015, Fennell said the council's current challenge is to maintain regular services and not disrupt established neighborhoods while aiming to reach that target.

Sanderson and Dhillon, who had both listed effective growth planning as key issues during their election campaigns, said they are ready to work with their fellow members of council as Brampton moves into the year 2007.

"It's very exciting to be with this council, and I've spoken with the other members about the ongoing issues," said Dhillon, who was sworn in as city councilor for Wards 9 and 10.

"I've been busy setting up my office and we've got our upcoming City Hall meeting set for December 6," said Sanderson, who was elected as regional councilor for Wards 3 and 4. Council will appoint one of the five councillors as both a city and regional councillor as per Bill 186 at the November 6 meeting.

Fennell also voiced her frustration with the higher levels of government, saying that municipalities across Canada are being overburdened by the pressures of managing growth and "…the current imbalance in Federal and Provincial policies."

"The province prescribes growth, but forces you, the citizens of our city, to pay for 10 per cent of it on your property taxes by limiting the use of development charges revenues by 90 per cent," Fennell stated.

"Brampton is at a crossroads in history, and our future success and prosperity will largely depend on the decisions made during this historic and important term of your council," she concluded.

Article written for The Brampton News by Jason Bowser