If you’re ever considered getting involved in municipal politics, the Town of Collingwood is currently accepting applications for the position of town councillor.
In a meeting Monday, council voted unanimously in favour of appointing a replacement for former councillor Tina Comi’s seat, and is inviting applications for the position.
Comi resigned on Jan. 21, and her seat was declared officially vacant on Jan. 24.
During Monday’s meeting, clerk Sara Almas said the town has received two letters expressing interest in filling the vacancy so far.
Coun. Steve Berman asked for a rough timeline of the appointment process. According to the process under the Municipal Act, a vacancy is required to be filled within 60 days after the day a declaration of vacancy is made, which, in this instance, is March 24.
“If this option is approved tonight... how quickly can we fill the seat?” asked Berman.
Almas said staff is prepared to move forward right away.
Once applications are submitted to the town, all applications will be reviewed by the clerk to ensure the eligibility of the applicant.
A special meeting of council would be called to consider the applications in open session, allowing each candidate an opportunity to speak to council for five minutes each to their interest and qualifications to fill the vacancy.
“The special meeting of council would occur the end of February/early March,” said Almas.
Council will vote on the applicants, through a clearly defined process, and the candidate with at least half of the votes will win the seat.
The individual appointed to fill the vacancy will be required to hold office for the remainder of the term, which expires Nov. 15.
The method is also being used by the Town of the Blue Mountains to fill a vacant seat. Former deputy mayor Rob Potter died in November. Council promoted councillor Peter Bordignon to the deputy mayor seat, and is now taking applications for Bordignon's vacant councillor role.
Now that the appointment option has been approved by council, notice will be provided by the town to the public on how to apply.
Also during the meeting, council voted to approve a motion put forward by Coun. Kathy Jeffery to amend the procedural bylaw to include how to address the absence of a mayor and deputy mayor at the same time.
Deputy Mayor Keith Hull has been on a leave of absence from his council seat since the end of November. If he doesn’t return before the Feb. 28 council meeting, his seat will be declared vacant. He has not yet indicated publicly whether he will be returning by that date.
Mayor Brian Saunderson is running in the June 2022 provincial election for the Conservatives and will be required to vacate his council seat if elected as an MPP.
“I think it’s really important that we address this... not just for this council but for future councils in terms of our governance,” said Jeffery. “We haven’t seen this kind of attrition for council, at least not in recent history. I felt it was a gap in the procedural bylaw.”
According to the proposed amendment, the member of council with the highest number of votes should be appointed to the acting mayor’s seat if both the deputy mayor and mayor leave before the end of the term. The acting mayor, reads the amendment, should appoint the acting deputy mayor and alternate(s) from the remaining members of council.
Council unanimously approved the motion to direct staff to work on amendments to the procedural bylaw.
Now that the motion has been approved, changes to the procedural bylaw will be considered at the Feb. 7 strategic initiatives standing committee and ratified at the Feb. 21 council meeting.
The next municipal election will take place Oct. 24, 2022.
