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LETTER: Appointment of new deputy mayor 'a staged slam dunk'

'The consequences of undermining what should be an equitable system will be much more costly and must not be tolerated,' says letter writer
2018-11-12 Ramara recount Marg Sharpe
Ramara Coun. Marg Sharpe, left, makes her case for a recount in 2018, as Coun. Marilyn Brooks listens. Sharpe should have been appointed or a byelection held to replace the late John O'Donnell, says letter writer. Nathan Taylor/OrilliaMatters File Photo

OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor. This letter is about Ramara Township's decision to appoint Joe Gough as Deputy Mayor. Click here to read that story. Send your letter to [email protected]
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On Monday June 22nd, 2020 during the scheduled Ramara Township Council meeting, a motion was tabled to fill the Deputy Mayor vacancy, which had been declared vacant at the April 20, 2020 Committee due to the passing of the elected Deputy Mayor, John O’Donnell.

The Ramara Township Clerk referred to staff report CD-11-20 and outlined the three options available to the Ramara Township Council members to restore the position of Deputy Mayor.

The process of filling the vacancy for Ramara Township Deputy Mayor took less than 10 minutes. The Mayor’s brother-in-law, Joe Gough, was installed as the Ramara Township Deputy Mayor with every impression that the process was a feebly hidden and staged motion.

During the next 10 minutes discussion took place regarding the need to fill the Ramara Township Ward 2 Councillor position that installing Joe Gough as Deputy Mayor had created. It was decided that applications would be requested from the public and the six existing Ramara Township Councillors would choose a candidate based on whether the candidates were, “A good fit for this Council.” 

Please see the following link to the YouTube video of the Monday, June 22 Ramara Township Council meeting, especially the portion from 1:33 to 1:52.

The appointment of Joe Gough as the Deputy Mayor was a staged slam dunk.

As the Ramara Township Clerk mentions there is a need to, “fulfill statutory and legislative requirements”. The position of Ramara Township Deputy Mayor had been officially vacant for over two months.

To instil faith in our democracy the option of a by-election should have been given much greater consideration. The COVID-19 health crisis and the cost of a by-election were cited as valid reasons not to consider a by-election as a feasible option.

However, the COVID-19 health crisis and by-election costs are not insurmountable and could be properly dealt with.

The unfortunate passing of an elected official must still require that we retain and adhere to the norms of a healthy democracy, even during a health crisis. There are inconveniences and costs associated with preserving our democracy, however the consequences of undermining what should be an equitable system will be much more costly and must not be tolerated.

During the council meeting the Mayor and other council members emphasized the prudence of avoiding further delay, while taking into consideration the significance of avoiding by-election costs and finding someone with prior council experience.

Ramara Township staff report CD-11- 20, Option 1 – Appointment reads, “Council appoints a qualified person who has consented to fill the office, (This could be another member of current Council or the second-place candidate in the 2018 election).”

The staff report CD-11-20 emphasizes this with brackets placed around it. A portion of this wording is underlined to draw attention to the fact that there was an option that was totally ignored.

This option would provide Ramara Township Council a viable, cost effective and timely solution to filling both the vacant Ramara Township Deputy Mayor position and restoring Ramara Township representation to seven experienced council members.

Offering the position to the second-place Ramara Township Deputy Mayor candidate, Maurice McMillan, or the second-place Mayoral candidate Marg Sharpe in the 2018 election would have been the logical path forward if the interests of Ramara Township and the interests of a healthy democracy were the primary considerations.

The cost of a by-election during the COVID-19 health crisis would be avoided, while at the same time no by-election campaigning would be required during a COVID-19 health crisis.

The second-place Ramara Township Deputy Mayor and Mayoral candidates are both qualified and have already been vetted as candidates for the 2018 election, as well as having previous municipal council experience.

Ramara Township would have a Deputy Mayor qualified and willing to fulfill the position. Instead, Ramara Township totally ignored the logical option of even talking to the second-place Ramara Township Deputy Mayor candidate, Maurice McMillan or the Mayoral candidate Marg Sharpe.

Why was the option of a by-election or the obvious first option of offering the position to the second-place Ramara Township Deputy Mayor candidate, Maurice McMillan or the Mayoral candidate Marg Sharpe not given proper deliberation and dutifully acted upon?

Would it be that these obvious decisions wouldn’t have met the agenda of the Mayor and the majority of councillors who appear to be using Ramara Township Council as their special private club.

A by-election or offering the position to the second-place Ramara Township Deputy Mayor candidate, Maurice McMillan or the Mayoral candidate Marg Sharpe would have been the clear choices if a democratic solution to filling both the vacant Ramara Township Deputy Mayor position and restoring Ramara Township representation to seven experienced council members was the goal.

What does, finding someone who is “A good fit for this Council”, really imply? The serving members of Ramara Township council were elected through a democratic process to protect our interests as tax payers and residents of Ramara Township.

We must hold our elected officials to a high standard of transparency and accountability.

Michael Douglas
Brechin

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