MAPLETON – Councillor Martin Tamlyn is stepping down from his position with the Township of Mapleton.
Tamlyn has accepted a job with the Township of Centre Wellington instead, where he will fill the new staff position of climate change coordinator. This position is part of a shared service agreement with Mapleton.
Working in this position disqualifies Tamlyn from holding office as a member of council. Tamlyn is set to start in his new position on Sept. 30.
In this role Tamlyn will gather environmental data, analyze climate change scenarios, identify key risks, and assess how to reduce energy consumption, minimize waste, conserve water and promote sustainable practices.
Centre Wellington will pay about $61,000 for the services, and Mapleton will pay about $48,000.
The initial agreement between the two townships is for one year, but they are likely to renew with an increased rate of three per cent annually, “or such other amount agreed upon by the parties,” according to a fees for services agreement reviewed by Mapleton council on May 28.
At that time, Tamlyn abstained from a vote to authorize the agreement.
“I look forward to continuing to serve our community in this new role,” Tamlyn states in a letter to Mapleton clerk Larry Wheeler announcing his resignation.
The letter is dated Sept. 18 and included in the agenda package for the Sept. 24 council meeting. During that council meeting, Tamlyn’s last, the vacancy was set to be declared.
“I am thankful for my time on council, the learning that took place, and for the support that has been given to me in making this transition,” Tamlyn states in the letter.
“I am aware of the extra work entailed in filling this vacancy, for which I am grateful to you all.”
Tamlyn declined a Community News request for an interview for this article.
Next steps
The municipality will fill the vacancy either by appointing a replacement or by holding a by-election.
Mapleton staff is recommending council appoint a new councillor through a call for applications.
In this case, council would invite anyone interested to submit an application for appointment to council.
The clerk would advertise for potential candidates, a process staff notes may attract more applications than a standard election process, as the traditional formal election process could be considered a large commitment for a short, two-year term.
Avoiding an election means “candidates would not have to endure a ‘town hall’ public question forum,” or spend money on lawn signs, pamphlets, and newspaper advertising, staff added.
Council would determine an application process and after reviewing submitted applications would do an open vote to pick an applicant.
Staff note this could give council an opportunity to “identify and recruit individuals possessing skillsets not currently represented on council.”
Alternatively, council could avoid the application process and directly recruit and appoint an eligible elector.
If council opts to directly appoint a previous council member, “The advantages are that the available individuals are fully trained, experienced, respected, known, and they have ‘stepped away’ from municipal politics, as opposed to being defeated at the polls,” Mapleton staff state in a Sept. 24 report about options to fill the seat.
“This method would allow for a quick, smooth transition and continuation of council’s immediate business, including the budgeting process.”
However, direct appointment is less transparent and democratic than appointment by application, staff noted.
Appointments must be made within 60 days of a vacancy being declared, and the replacement would officially join council on Nov. 26.
If council chooses to hold a by-election instead, the process will take about three or four months.
“Early in a council term this alternative would be more attractive, as the money and resources spent would have a longer payback,” staff note.
But at this point, “While a by-election may be considered the most democratic option, it is not practically sustainable in the event additional vacancies were to occur.”
To consider the financial impact of conducting a by-election, Mapleton staff highlighted the most recent councillor by-election conducted in a small, rural Ontario municipality.
This by-election took place in Port Hope in June and cost approximately $21,000, excluding staff time.
Appointment by application would cost about $20,000 less than a by-election, staff state in the report, and direct appointment would be “slightly” less expensive than appointment by application.
