BY MICHAEL BRESLIN
The new Chairman of Fermanagh District Council is UUP member for Erne West, Alex Baird. Elected two years ago, he described himself in his acceptance speech as a 'blow-in' and, therefore, all the prouder to be Fermanagh's first citizen.
The Vice-Chairman is Sinn Féin's, Brian McCaffrey. He takes over from the DUP's Bert Johnston.
Both were elected without demur, according to the agreed d'Hondt system and, in fact, it was sweetness and light all round, with the outgoing chairman, John O'Kane quoting from John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, in his departure address.
He began it by paying a tribute to 'the enormous work' that the staff of the Council did, then the network of voluntary and community groups on their contribution and for inviting him along to their functions, and Councillor Johnston for deputising for him.
He singled out Liz Connor, the Chief Executive's personal secretary, now retired, for her assistance and, likewise, her husband, Rodney, 'who was there to make sure I walked the straight and narrow path'.
"He kept the interests of the Council always to the forefront," Mr O'Kane went on. "And, thanks to all of the Councillors on your co-operation during the year. We had a very good year and your co-operation made the conduct of meetings relatively easy for me."
Nor, did he forget the Press for reporting meetings of the Council during the year and the Press photographers: "They are not here, but they did try to find my better side, although I don't think they succeeded (laughter)."
On a more serious note, Mr O'Kane said he was leaving the chair at a time of great optimism as opposed to when he took over the chair.
"Fermanagh are well represented on the Assembly and, possibly, there will be a reappraisal of the Review of Public Administration and, hopefully, a consensus model and probably even the county model we have been looking for."
Concluding, he reminded Councillors that, when he took the chair, he had asked them to try and put themselves in the shoes of other people and, quoting from John Wesley, he stated: 'Give me your hand. Keep your opinion and I will keep mine'.
His successor, Alex Baird was proposed by Tom Elliott whom in his tribute to John O'Kane, thanked him for his year's work and, also, the Vice-chairman. He said Mr O'Kane had served the Council in a fair and impartial manner.
The new Chairman, in his turn, thanked the outgoing Chairman and Vice-chairman, describing both as, 'a credit to Fermanagh'. He did not forget the voters of Erne West, who elected him two years previously nor his Party colleagues for putting their trust in him, not, most of all, his wife, Joy.
Then, most helpfully for the Press, he sketched in his CV, recalling his first job in Enniskillen, on 31st October, 1966 as a clerical officer in the Civil Service. It was during that time, he explained, that he joined two organisations to help his integration into the community, Rossorry Badminton Club and Enniskillen Young Unionists.
He never looked back after that, he said.
In 1970, the new Chairman took up another posting in the Civil Service in Belfast, covering Armagh and Dungannon, before moving back to Enniskillen in the late 1970s. It was then that he married Joy and he has been here ever since.
Brian McCaffrey, the new Vice-chairman, was proposed by his Party colleague, Bernice Swift, who thanked John O'Kane and Bert Johnston. Mr McCaffrey thanked his colleagues and wished the new Chairman and Vice-chairman well, and he asked to be associated with the remarks made about Councillors O'Kane and Bert Johnston .
