Minor plans to stay active

Three-term Democratic city Councilor Craig Minor also completed his final council meeting this week.

He said Wednesday that he opted to step down because he believes it is crucial that the city have a regular infusion of “new blood and new ideas.”

Minor said that it takes a couple of years to learn the ropes, but after a couple more years it’s easy to “get discouraged” at the slow pace of change in government.

“You reach a point of diminishing returns,” Minor said. “Like most people, I don’t feel I accomplished as much as I hoped to.”

Mayor Art Ward said Minor compiled a solid record in office.

“Craig has done a yeoman’s job chairing the Ordinance Committee,” the mayor said.

City Councilor Kevin McCauley said Minor “helped initiate me” to the council and will be missed.

He said Minor should have free time for his hobbies, his family and more without the obligations of so many city meetings.

Minor said, though, that as a private citizen, he has no intention of slipping into the background.

He said he will be able to focus on projects that mean the most to him and to push the city to make them happen.

As a councilor, Minor said, he often had “to bite my tongue” but as a citizen he can say whatever he wants.

For instance, he said, as a councilor who wants to preserve the old South Chippens School building, he feels an obligation to figure out how to pay for it. As a citizen, though, he can push his ideas and tell officials they need to come up the cash.

“As a private citizen, I don’t have to be objective,” Minor said. “I’ll just go to the other side of podium.”

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