MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS
The Purpose of a Municipal Council:
A Municipal Council makes decisions that will affect the municipality as a whole and they are elected to council by the ratepayers within the RM. Decisions made by council members affect the services that people rely on every day, such as roads, bridges, culverts, public services, policies and programs. Council members have an equal voice around the table. A majority vote is required to make a decision and once that decision is made all council members must respect the decision, even when they did not vote in favor.
Did You Know That the Duties of a Municipal Councillor/Reeve are Legislated?
You can find the list of duties and responsibilities in The Municipalities Act Section 92 & 93. Some of those for a Councillor include:
- to represent the public and to consider the the well-being and interests of the municipality;
- to participate in developing and evaluating the policies, services and programs of the municipality;
- to participate in council meetings, council committee meetings and meetings of other bodies to which they are appointed by council;
- to ensure that administrative practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council;
- to keep in confidence matters discussed in private or to be discussed in private at ta council or council committee meeting until discussed at a meeting held in public;
- to maintain the financial integrity of the municipality; and
- to perform any other duty or function imposed on councillors by any Act or by council.
The ONLY Added duties that a Reeve has are:
- to preside when in attendance at a council meeting unless an Act or Bylaw of council provides that another councillor is to preside;
- to perform any other duty imposed on a reeve by an Act or by Bylaw or resolution;
- the Reeve is a member of all council committees and all bodies established by council, unless the council provides otherwise; and
- votes on all resolutions and bylaws brought before council.
As a Councillor/Reeve:
- you are required to attend 1 (one) council meeting monthly,
- attend special meetings of council if required,
- commit to committees of council that you are appointed to (Recreation Board, Health Foundation, Road Committee, etc.). The committees of council may or may not have monthly meetings, but have high need times throughout the year and regular attendance is required.
The term of a Councillor or Reeve is four (4) years.
Being elected to council is of high importance and with it comes great responsibility to be the voice of the ratepayers of the municipality!
As ratepayers, your role is very important as well, and that is to chose or vote for the candidate that you feel would best represent the municipality as a whole!
