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New Tec opts for application process to fill vacant ward

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In Council Watch
Oct 30th, 2017
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Deputy Mayor Donna Jebb

 

New Tecumseth Free Press Online October 31 2017

New Tecumseth is now accepting applications for the Ward 5 council vacancy created when Donna Jebb was elevated to Deputy Mayor on Oct. 12th.

Anyone eligible to vote in New Tecumseth is qualified to apply. The winner will be determined by a council vote either the week of Nov. 20 or 27th. At the special meeting of council, candidates will be provided about 10 minutes for a speech, and then councillors will have the opportunity to ask two questions each.

Ward councillors are paid a basic annual remuneration of $20,874, health/dental benefits (value of approximately $6,650) car allowance of $1,020, in addition to other expenses – phone, special meeting per diems.

New Tec to declare Ward 5 vacant, decide how to fill it

New Tecumseth Free Press Online October 30 2017

New Tecumseth councillors are expected to declare Ward 5 vacant tonight following the elevation of Donna Jebb to the deputy mayor post, Oct. 12.

As was the case with the process to fill the deputy mayor’s vacancy created by the Aug. 1 death of Jamie Smith, councillors have two options: by appointment or by-election. In the deputy mayor’s case, council, without discussion, chose to fill that vacancy from within their ranks. Ms. Jebb defeated Ward 6 councillor Richard Norcross in a 5-4 vote.

The appointment option for Ward 5 has three scenarios:
(a) – Appoint a qualified elector from the community;
(b) – Advertise and receive applications from qualified electors that are interested in being appointed to the office of Ward 5 Councillor; or
(c) – Appoint the candidate from the last election with the next highest number of votes for the office of Ward 5 Councillor, providing the candidate is still a qualified elector.

Option (a) could in fact be filled tonight if council chose that route.

“This process could be delayed if the individual was not able to be contacted in order to confirm qualifications and his or her consent to the appointment or if it was determined that the individual was not a qualified elector,” according to the Clerk’s report laying out the options.

Option (b) would require two weeks of advertising (Nov. 1-14), followed by a special council meeting week of Nov. 20 or Nov. 27, to meet the candidates and vote. Council has until Dec. 29 to appoint.

Option (c) involves appointing the second place finisher in the 2014 elections.

Ms. Jebb declined comment again this morning when asked by Free Press Online whether she believed the person appointed to fill her vacant Ward 5 seat, should as she did for deputy mayor, commit not to run for the seat in 2018.

“I think people should wait and see what the council decides and if then they want to apply for the position,” she said.

The second scenario is filling the vacancy via by-election which has an estimated cost of $37,000. In that case, the election process would kick-in, including a nomination day which would be Dec. 15, and campaign period. Advance polling would be held Jan. 22-26, 2018, and election day Jan. 29, 2018. The winner would not take office until February 2018.

“Given the term of office remaining the lengthy time associated with a by-election and the cost both financially and in terms of staff resources,”according to the Clerk’s report, “the appointment of an individual to the office of Ward 5 Councillor supports the most responsible spending.”

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