City won’t fill Merritton vacancy
The seat at St. Catharines city council left vacant by Jennie Stevens will not be filled prior to the Oct. 22 municipal election — despite provincial legislation saying it must be.
“With the amount of time it would take an individual to get up to speed and the very limited amount of time they would actually be serving in the horseshoe, I think it makes more sense to leave the seat vacant,” said St. Patrick’s Ward Coun. Matt Siscoe.
The Ontario Municipal Act requires councils to either appoint a representative or hold a byelection to fill vacancies. When a seat becomes vacant after March 31 in an election year, a byelection is no longer an option and council must appoint a person to fill the vacancy.
The legislation also only allows municipalities to leave a seat vacant when there are fewer than 90 days before an election. Even when Stevens — who was elected as the St. Catharines riding MPP last week — officially becomes MPP at the end of the month, there will still be about 114 days to go before the election.
Regardless, council unanimously approved a motion Monday not to fill the seat of the longtime Merritton councillor.
Council also voted to use the remaining wages that would have been paid to Stevens to instead enhance the Merritton fireworks display on Labour Day weekend.
Meanwhile, council unanimously supported a motion by
Grantham Ward Coun. Bill Phillips to nominate former MPP Jim Bradley for the Order of Canada, in recognition of his 40-plus years of service to the riding.
“This is one way that this council and previous councils can thank him for what he has done,” Phillips said.
Stevens was present at the start of the council meeting, calling it an “honour and a privilege” to have represented Merritton for the past 14 years.
The community, she added, will “continue to have first class and dedicated representation from my fellow ward-mate,
Coun. (David) Haywood.” Siscoe later agreed.
“I think councillor Haywood is more than capable of picking up the slack, and he obviously would be able to call any of us if he needed any assistance in Merritton,” he said, while introducing his motion to leave Stevens’ seat vacant.
“And I think it would be a fitting tribute to Coun. Stevens that her remaining salary be put towards a cause I know she has fundraised for. I know, personally, she has been very dedicated to it for the last number of years. I think it would be an appropriate way to honour her and her time on council.”
Port Dalhousie Coun. Bruce Williamson argued that “quite soon we will effectively be a lame duck council, so this is the right direction to go.”
Haywood said he knows of people who would be qualified to fill the vacancy, but agreed about the limit role that someone appointed to the position would play.
He said the people of Merritton would also appreciate the contribution to the community festival.