According to the Municipal Act, it is the council’s discretion to fill a vacant seat in whatever manner they choose. And they can choose any Elliot Laker of voting age who is eligible.
But there is a long tradition in Elliot Lake, of going next-in-line to respect the voters decision and "follow the democratic practice."
Last Monday, as council debated how they will choose an appointee from the candidates list, they were informed that there is a past precedent where two candidates were skipped over in 2017, during an appointment process.
The information came during the debate, in a response from the city clerk to a question from Couns. Luc Morrissette.
Were they ‘skipped over’?
Directing his question to the city clerk, Morrissette asked, “Previous council - Was there at any time they jumped from the person that was supposed to be accepted as the next candidate, to a different candidate during the process?”
Clerk Bray answered, “There was a vacancy in 2017 where we did skip over two.”
“We moved over two people.”
Bray did not elaborate about the circumstances. She was not the clerk in 2017. And none of the councillors followed up to find out specifically what happened or why it happened.
Three councillor resignations. How were they filled?
Three councillors resigned from the council of 2014 within a six-month period during late 2017 and early 2018.
Sept. 25, 2017
The first resignation was accepted at the council meeting of Sept. 25, 2017.
Then mayor, Dan Marchesella, proposed, “I would look for a mover to declare the seat vacant and following the democratic practice of appointing the next candidate on the voters list.”
“Is there any concern with this process?” Marchesella asked. Seeing no objections, he called for a roll call vote.
Couns. Norman Mann was the first to vote. He voted in favour. It was unanimous. Ed Pearce accepted the appointment.
Oct. 10, 2017 - 'moved over two people'
The second resignation was accepted at the council meeting of Oct. 10, 2017.
Marchesella said, “I’d like to follow the democratic practice. Mr. Kucey would be next on our list to be appointed. He has requested some time. And I’d be looking for council to defer the appointment for the following two meetings to give him that time.”
ElliotLakeToday has learned that Mr. Kucey declined the appointment for personal reasons.
And the next candidate below him, was described in "a conflict of interest." That story is here.
Were the candidates ‘skipped over’?
The council of the day followed the candidate list in order of votes. The first candidate declined and the second candidate was described, in a conflict of interest.
And the council of the day continued to the third candidate. Chris Patrie accepted the appointment.
Mar. 26, 2018
At the time of the third resignation, noting "past practices," Couns. Ed Pearce spoke in favour of the next-in-line practice. Council supported the practice and offered the appointment to the next candidate.
And next-in-line, Sandy Finamore, accepted the appointment.