Changes to ward system, council composition, hung up on Tottenham

Posted June 30, 2009

Ward 5 councillor Jim Stone secured a one week reprieve last night to a council vote on the confirmation bylaw that sets up a restructured ward system for New Tecumseth in time for the November 2010 municipal elections.

Mr. Stone objects to Tottenham, as its own ward in the new eight ward electoral map, being allocated only one seat. Both he and his ward mate, Jess Prothero, initially objected to the former village being divided in two to keep with the one ward, one councillor system that will replace the at large elections in Alliston and Tottenham.

While Mr. Prothero still objects to the split, Mr. Stone is prepared to accept a reconfiguration that would redraw the proposed rural Ward 7 and Ward 8 Tottenham that retains two seats in the village.

Last night's expected vote on the bylaw will take place next week instead as council agreed to summon the consultant, Dr. Robert Williams, one final time to explain whether the ward configurations as proposed cheat Tottenham out of "fair" representation.

It was intended that the bylaw, which is appealable to the Ontario Municipal Board once approved, would have passed last night so as to provide enough time to deal with appeals and still implement whatever the end result is in time for the next municipal elections.

Should it remain unchanged, and no appeals are launched, the next council will include the mayor and deputy mayor elected at large, and eight councillors elected from eight wards:

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