There are a lot of different moving targets when it comes to understanding why Larry Rollins is no longer the deputy mayor for Madoc Township.
The easy answer is that he resigned from the position this past Friday.
The more difficult question is whether or not he was legally still in the position of deputy mayor at the time he submitted the resignation letter.
It all stems from the 2022 municipal election in Madoc Township, where Rollins was acclaimed to the position.
Rollins says he did not spend money in the campaign and did not believe he had to submit a list of expenses (Form 4: Financial Statement – Auditor’s Report Candidate).
There are three contraventions of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996, where penalties apply automatically:
-if you fail to file a financial statement by the end of the 30-day grace period or fail to apply to the court for an extension by the filing deadline
-if your financial statement shows that you exceeded your spending limit
-if you fail to turn over your surplus to the clerk when you file your financial statement
Penalties
(2) Subject to subsection (7), in the case of a default described in subsection (1),
(a) the candidate forfeits any office to which he or she was elected and the office is deemed to be vacant; and
(b) until the next regular election has taken place, the candidate is ineligible to be elected or appointed to any office to which this Act applies. 2016, c. 15, s. 60.
Notice of default
(3) In the case of a default described in subsection (1), the clerk shall,
(a) notify the candidate in writing that the default has occurred;
(b) if the candidate was elected, notify the council or board to which he or she was elected in writing that the default has occurred; and
(c) make available to the public the name of the candidate and a description of the nature of the default. 2016, c. 15, s. 60.
At a meeting of council on June 22, 2026, council declared Rollins’s seat vacant, however, according to the above information, they should have done so more than three years ago.
Where does that leave council and the decisions/approvals/motions over the last three years?
According to the Municipal Act, Rollins’s seat was automatically forfeited in 2023
Council passed the following by-law on Monday evening (read by Mayor Lloyd Blackburn in open session).
“The motion is, that council gives a first, second, and third and final passing on this day being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the council of the Township of Madoc meetings held from December 5, 2022 up into including June 22, 2026.”
Before much of this information was publicly known, Rollins submitted a resignation letter to the township, which council accepted in open session.
Rollins read his resignation letter to Quinte News.
“To the mayor, members of council and residents of the township, please accept this letter as my formal resignation as deputy mayor effective immediately. This decision has not been made lightly. Over the past several weeks, considerable attention has been given to a financial filing, related to the 2022 municipal election.
Throughout this process, I have made every effort to provide clarification regarding the circumstances involved. As I previously stated, I was acclaimed to office in 2022. No one ran against me, I did not raise campaign funds, receive contributions or incur campaign expenses. The financial statement at the center of this matter would have reflected that my campaign finances were $0.
I also remain concerned that important context was not provided to the public and that questions surrounding the notification process have never been fully addressed, including why I never received the statement in question by registered mail as required under the Municipal Elections Act. I want to be clear: my resignation should not be interpreted in any way as an admission of wrongdoing. I have always acted honestly, in good faith, and in the best interests of my community I have been privileged to serve.
However, it has become apparent that resolving this matter would likely require a lengthy and costly legal process. While I remain confident in my position, I do not believe that spending additional taxpayers’ dollars serves the best interests of the township. For that reason, I have chosen to step aside.
Public service has been an important part of my life for more than two decades. It has been a privilege to work alongside many dedicated staff, fellow council members, volunteers, and residents who care deeply about this community. I’m grateful for the trust that residents have placed in me over the years, and I remain proud of what we have accomplished together.
While I am disappointed by how this matter has unfolded, I leave with my integrity intact and with appreciation for the many people who have supported me and my family throughout my years of service. I wish the township and its residents nothing but success in the future.”
Now comes the he said/she said.
Rollins says if he was in fact in default, why did it take until a few months left in the term before the municipality did anything about it?
Why did it come to light just days after he filed papers in the 2026 municipal election to run for the seat of mayor?
He alleges there were others on council (in 2022) that received a letter from the clerk, notifying them they would be in default if they did not submit their financial paperwork.
“I was acclaimed, on the filing date, I was with the clerk. I asked the clerk what I was to do and she said, ‘Mr. Rollins, Larry, you don’t have to do anything. You’ve been acclaimed. You will just go on the ballot as acclaimed.’
There were three other people that were headed for default (not filing financial paperwork). Those people received registered mail, as is required. However, I never received registered mail. Our files should all have the registered mail in the file and that number should be there also.
I have asked over the last month for that information to be released to the public and myself so that we can all understand that that registered mail actually was sent to me.”
Mayor Lloyd Blackburn spoke to Quinte News and told us Rollins was sent mail, but the Municipal Act does not require it to be registered.
“There was two different letters sent to Mr Rollins reminding him he needed to do his financial statements.”
-Were the letters to the other (not in default) candidates sent registered mail?
-Was Rollins not sent registered mail?
-Was he sent mail at all?
-Does it matter whether or not the clerk notified any candidates, or is it up to the candidate to file their own paperwork?
As of 10:00 a.m. on June 23, 2026, Rollins is still listed on the Madoc Township website as a candidate for this fall, however, Mayor Blackburn tells us he is now ineligible.
We have reached out to Municipal Affairs and Housing to provide clarity.
