MAPLETON – Since former councillor Martin Tamlyn’s resignation in September, there has been a vacant seat on Mapleton council.
At a meeting on Oct. 8, council approved details of the process to fill this vacant seat.
Council vacancy notices outlining the application process are set to be posted in the Advertiser, the Community News, and on the township’s website and social media on Oct. 16 and 23.
Applications must include completed and signed Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing nomination forms, endorsement of nomination forms with five endorsements from Mapleton electors, a consent to release personal information form, and a valid government issued ID.
The above forms are available by email or pick up at the clerk’s office, and must be submitted, by appointment, before 5pm on Oct. 28.
Candidates will then submit a two-page personal statement of qualification “describing their background, career, education, achievements, aspirations, beliefs and or any matter of their choice – for consideration of council members” states a staff report from clerk Larry Wheeler outlining the application procedure.
These statements will be due by Nov. 4.
“All of the above information and documentation will be included in the council agenda for the council meeting on Nov. 12 at 7pm,” the report states.
Candidates will offer five minute presentations during the Nov. 12 meeting.
Following the presentations, each councillor will vote for the candidate they deem most fit for the job, by writing the name of their chosen candidate on a ballot.
These ballots will be collected and read out loud by Wheeler, including each councillor’s name along with the candidate they voted for.
As there is an even number of councillors, it is possible the vote will result in a tie.
In this case, candidates names will be chosen randomly from a hat.
Councillor Michael Martin said this was the one part of the process that had him “raising an eyebrow.
“I understand that appointment by application from existing councillors is not the most democratic way of filling the seat, but I understand the argument you made for filling it that way and I agree with you,” he said to Wheeler.
“But a tie-break coming from a hat seems even less democratic,” he said.
“I’d rather take on that responsibility and accountability to folks from Mapleton in another form than drawing a name from a hat. Is there a way to accommodate that with the same compact, efficient process?” he asked the clerk.
Wheeler said he shares Martin’s sentiment, and has a “pile of paper” on his desk from going through details of what “everybody else is doing,” and hasn’t found a suitable alternative.
“I checked with the province, and I can’t see there’s anybody else that’s come up with a better system for that,” Wheeler said.
“I’m hoping it doesn’t come down to that.”
Wheeler said one way to “add a layer” would be for councillors to talk “amongst themselves in open council about the pros and cons of each candidate and then re-voting.
“Try as I might, I couldn’t come up with anything better than that,” he said.
Mayor Gregg Davidson said he “completely understands” where Martin’s concerns are coming from.
“I always thought the drawing out of a hat … was a strange way of deciding.”
He noted the same tie-break system is used at the county level.
Council voted unanimously to approve the process as outlined in the staff report, including the names from a hat tie-breaking method.
