New try at chopping size of Cty council
Posted October 3, 2024
Simcoe County's governance committee is recommending council approve an option to reduce its 32 members to 16, with a full-time Warden.
It represents the latest attempt, all unsuccessful to date, to elminate the deputy mayors as members of the upper tier council.
The preferred option will be presented to County councillors when the meet next Tuesday morning.
Here's the breakdown:
One Mayor representative from each of the 16 lower-tier municipalities. - One additional Member of Council who will be appointed as Warden for a four-year term among any eligible elector at the inaugural meeting of the new Council (with reasonable criteria).
Weighted vote formula maintained with current number of votes for each municipality concentrated to the Mayor representative. In addition, the Warden position to receive a weighted vote equal to that of the local municipal member with the lowest.
Council has the option to specify that the appointed member from each local municipality be appointed by the lower-tier following each election. However, the Mayor position sitting at County Council (similar to the current double-direct method) is considered the default under this option as this has generally seemed to be Council’s preference in past, is straightforward and provides benefits when electors across the County have knowledge of who will be the County representative when voting. Reducing the size of Council was concerning for some in the past due to representation due to absence, but the option of appointing alternates did not previously exist, which may alleviate concerns.
If Council would like to pursue. Option 2, the following motion wording is recommended: That Council support Option 2 to Pursue a ‘Full-Time’ Warden – 17 Member Council; and That staff prepare and issue public notice of Council’s intention to pass a by-law to change the composition of County Council; and That staff schedule a public meeting for Council to consider a draft by-law to change the composition of County Council; and That the notice also be provided to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing in the form of a letter from the Warden.
Any changes to the composition of council would require a triple majority support: a majority of votes on Cty Council; a majority of the lower tier (9 out of 16); and the majority of lower tiers in favour representing a majority of all electors in Simcoe County. That means New Tecumseth, Bradford and Innisfil are key to any changes.
