Committee to review applicants for city councillor seat

After a lengthy and sometimes heated debate in Belleville council, a committee will be formed to help select a new council member to fill the vacant seat on city council.

At issue is the seat left vacant with the passing of Councillor Pat Culhane.

On Monday night, city council had a staff report indicating there were two choices, name a person to the seat or hold an election.

Council immediately decided not to go the election route, but would name a person to the seat.

A motion to appoint Tyler Allsopp, the person who came just one step below a council seat in the last election, was put on the floor.

Councillor Kelly McCaw pointed to a Facebook social media post that she said indicated Allsopp may not grasp the commitment needed.

“Based on that he may not have a grasp of the commitment it takes” to be a councillor.

Regarding comments that the next in line was a “tradition” McCaw noted it had been a “tradition” to not give women the right to vote.

Councillor Ryan Williams said he would only support a candidate elected by the peoople and the next in line.”  Adding, “This is a democracy.”
Councillor Sean Kelly, who chairs the Inclusion Committee,  noted Belleville is becoming a diverse community, “We’ve always done it that way is no longer justification for a decision.”

Councillor Bill Sandison gave his opinion “We have the ability to select any number of individuals in the community and I for one think it should be a woman. Councillor Culhane was an advocate. Voters give us responsibility around this table to put works into action…Replace a woman coucillor with a woman.”

Councillor Chris Malette said it was the wishes of the community who voted for Allsopp.

 

Allsopp’s name went down to defeat.

Mayor Mitch Panciuk argued the need for more women representation on council.

Mayor Panciuk announced he would form an ad hoc committee to review applications for the spot, with a short list coming to council in January.

Councillor Paul Carr argued, “That is how the residents, at that time, voted (for Allsopp). Only their voice matters. It’s fundamental to our democracy.”

He questioned the mayor’s authority to form such a committee.

City clerk Matt MacDonald confïrmed that the rules indicate the mayor has authority to establish a committee.

The committee members are: Chair Councillor Kelly McCaw, members Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, Dr. Julie Gowthorpe, former Belleville Police Chief Cory McKay, Tracy Wright, Hastings Prince Edward School Board Director Sean Monteith , and Bay of Quinte Pride Committee Chair John Ross Parks.

The new councillor must be appointed within 60 days of November 23, when the seat was declared vacant.

That’s January 23.

In order for a community member’s application to be considered, they must reside or own land in the municipality, be a Canadian citizen of 18 years of age and must not be prohibited under the Municipal Act from voting.

Applications will be made available starting Tuesday at 10 a.m. on the City of Belleville website.

The application deadline is January 6.

The committee will have the short list to city council at its first meeting in January.