HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD-24-87,,,,r .x~,i ~ cr. +.~, ~~
. ~~ ~ ~~ ~~
.`~ / ~~ ~
TOWN OF NEWCASTLE
REPORT File # ~"- c~.~ ~~m
Res . ~~i ~~- ~~" ' ~
By-Law #
~j(~; GENERAL PURPOSE & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
PATE; APRIL 21, 1987
T #: CD-24-87 FILE #: 35.23.11.
SUBJECT:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
DURHAM REGION AREA CLERK'S RESPONSE TO THE FINAL
DRAFT REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON
MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. That Clerk's Report CD-24-87 be received; and
2. That the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend that Council
endorse the position taken by the Durham Region Area Clerks and support the
forwarding of a copy of the "Area Clerks' Response" to the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, and the Association of
Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario.
BACKGROUND AND COMMENT:
In February 1986, the Minister of Municipal Affairs established a committee whose
role was "to conduct a review of, and make recommendations for, improvement to the
local government electoral process in Ontario." Following its forming, the Committee
prepared a document entitled "Issues and Options: An Interim Report on Municipal
Elections In Ontario." This lengthy document was circulated for comment in August
1986, and received in Newcastle on September 4th 1986. The intention of the
circulation was to solicit responses to the report by October 1st 1986. Given the
timing, no response to the report was prepared here. The decision was, that since
the report was being reviewed by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (A.M.O.)
and the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (A.M.C.T.O.) and
others, it would be reasonable to await the report that would be prepared following
the review process.
Continued ...../2
Report CD-24-87 - 2 - April 21, 1987 !'
~~ ~~ ~~)
By letter dated February 11th 1987, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, announced
the production and circulation of the Advisory Committee's first report, entitled
"Local Government Elections in Ontario's Final Report of the Advisory Committee.
It was this document that was the subject of a meeting of the Durham Region Area
Clerks held on March 18th 1987, in the Whitby Municipal Building.
At the March 18th 1987 meeting, the area Clerks reviewed the final report, the
positions taken on each of the eighty-eight (88) recommendations by A.M.O., and
A.M.C.T.O., and reached a concensus position on each of the recommendations.
Because of the length of the document, it has not been reproduced for review by
Council.
By letter dated April 7th 1987, Mr. Donald McKay, A.M.C.T., Clerk, Town of Whitby,
forwarded a copy of a document entitled "Durham Region Area Clerk's Response to the
Final Report of the Advisory Committee on Municipal Elections." This final document
contains the Advisory Committee's recommendations, the A.M.C.T.O. response, the
A.M.O. response, and finally the position taken by the Area Clerks.
The Area Clerks have we believe, been objective in our approach to the issue. We
have supported a review of the municipal electoral process, but are concerned that
in many areas the Final Report recommendations erode the local authority, and
attempts to place the control of local elections i~ the hands of persons who are
not practitioners and thus are not familiar with the intricacies of administering
the municipal election process locally.
I am, on behalf of the Region of Durham Area Clerks, requesting that the General
Purpose and Administration Committee endorse the position taken by the Area Clerks
on this most important matter, and recommend endorsement of the position to Council.
Respectfully submitted,
Recommended for Presentation
to Committee
vi a es, ., ., .,
Town Clerk.
i ,~ ~'
~- ~ ; ~,
',
'a rence, o se .,
Chief Ad~mifistrative Officer.
B~