South Frontenac seeking applicants for Councillor position
After the passing of Councillor Pat Barr, the Council of the Corporation of the Township of South Frontenac is seeking applicants interested in filling the office vacancy.
Council declared the office vacant at their meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021, as required under the Municipal Act, 2001. As such, Council is seeking applicants who are interested in filling this vacancy for the remainder of this Council term, which ends in October 2022, according to a release from South Frontenac Township.
“As the community, staff and Council mourn the loss of Councillor Pat Barr, we know that we also have an obligation to our constituents in Bedford district and South Frontenac residents as a whole, to ensure the seat is filled with a passionate and capable individual,” said Mayor Ron Vandewal.
In addition to declaring the seat vacant, Council passed a motion to fill the vacancy by publically advertising for interested individuals to apply in writing – asking that they provide their background, credentials and reasons for interest, according to the release. This process was selected to ensure accountability and transparency and includes a step where select candidates will be interviewed by Council in a public forum, with dates and times to be determined and advertised, the Township said. Deliberations and the official appointment of office will occur on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, in open session.
Township residents can register to listen in on the interviews and all other Council meetings through the Township’s website.
“When reviewing the options available, Council felt an application process and publicly accessible interviews were the best way to move forward given the limited time remaining in the term and the lack of a second-place Bedford district candidate in the 2018 election,” explained Vandewal. “Conducting the interviews in open session during a Council meeting is our way of trying to make sure residents feel included throughout the entire process.”
Residents interested in submitting an application to fill the vacancy must meet certain eligibility requirements under the Municipal Elections Act and the Municipal Act. In order to be eligible, candidates must reside in, or own land in the Township of South Frontenac, and must also be at least 18 years of age, a Canadian citizen, not an employee of the Township, not in jail or a judge, MPP, MP, or Senator, and may only hold one position in office.
Applications can be found at www.southfrontenac.net/council/ and should be submitted no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, via email to [email protected] or in-person to the Municipal Offices at 4432 George St, PO Box 100, Sydenham, ON.
“While we will miss Pat greatly, Council looks forward to welcoming her successor to the team and promises an eventful year with budget season and the 2022 election just around the corner,” said Mayor Vandewal.