Town council is hurting local businesses by putting off appointing a new mayor until the end of August, says the head of Morinville’s chamber of commerce.
Morinville & District Chamber of Commerce president Simon Boersma issued a press release Monday criticizing council’s decision last July 11 to put off appointing a new mayor until Aug. 27.
Council held a special meeting on July 11 to discuss how to fill the vacancy left by former mayor Paul Krauskopf, who died June 30. Councils must have a mayor under the Municipal Government Act.
Council had three options: call a by-election, make a current councillor the mayor, or carry on with a deputy mayor (currently Coun. Lisa Holmes) until the next regular council meeting (Aug. 27).
In a 3-2 vote, council chose the latter option – councillors Nicole Boutestein, Lisa Holmes and David Pattison in favour, Sheldon Fingler and Gordon Boddez opposed.
Boersma called on council to call another special meeting to appoint a mayor before the end of August. “From our perspective, there’s too much risk in waiting.”
Not having a mayor could deter new investment, he said, and suggests that council is divided and indecisive. “We recognize our community is still in mourning for the loss of a great man, but council needs to find the strength to lead during this period.”
Boersma said he had no preference as to whom should be the mayor – he just wanted one picked. “Why will it be easier to make a decision on Aug. 27? Make it now.”
The deputy mayor takes over for the mayor in his or her absence, said Holmes, which means she is in charge of the town. “Everyone in the community needs to recognize that the work of council is moving forward.”
A by-election would have been pointless, she continued, as by the time the new mayor was sworn in, there would be only a few days left before Nomination Day (Sept. 23) and the start of this fall’s election. “There wouldn’t be anything for the new mayor to do.”
Council needed the summer to come together and figure out what its priorities were for the next three months before appointing a mayor, she continued. A workshop to do this was set to happen Tuesday night. “We have the option to move ahead without the emotion of the passing of the mayor over our heads.” She stood by council’s decision to wait until Aug. 27.
