Residents of Amherstburg may be given a chance to decide how they want to elect councillors in the years to come.
The Town of Amherstburg held a virtual information session Monday night to discuss the pros and cons of moving the town's government structure to a ward system, a change from the current at-large method of choosing a mayor, deputy mayor, and councillors.
Interim Town Clerk Valerie Critchley provided a presentation that described the process of placing the question on the ballot, compared three different voting systems, and provided the advantages and disadvantages of each. Critchley then turned the meeting over for questions, with all except one sent in by residents in writing.
At-large means the entire community chooses a mayor, deputy mayor, and a certain number of councillors, with the top vote-getters getting seats. A ward system divides a municipality into geographical sections, and a mixed system combines certain elements of both at-large and ward systems.
Currently, Amherstburg chooses all of its representatives on an at-large basis. One of the potential options is keeping the current one, another is a three-ward system where three areas would be drawn up and everyone would select a mayor, plus two councillors per ward.
A five-ward system was also laid out, meaning the mayor and deputy mayor would be elected at large, and the town would be divided into five wards with one representative apiece.
Boundaries have not been figured in, and according to Critchley, will not be figured in unless councillors decide to move forward with a ward system.
Should voters select switching to a ward system, the Municipal Act requires that for it to be binding, there must be at least 50 per cent turnout, plus a majority voting in favour of the change.
The Ontario Municipal Act requires that at least one public information session take place before a bylaw proposal goes before council. The deadline for a bylaw question to be placed on an agenda is March 1, which means that under the ten-day notice required by the Municipal Act, the public and Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs must be given notice no later than February 19.
The other at-large municipalities in Windsor-Essex are LaSalle, Kingsville, and Leamington. The rest operate under a geographical ward system.
