Victoria town council — beset by infighting and dysfunction — is dismissed by minister
CBC
In a rare use of the provincial government's powers, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has dismissed the entire town council in Victoria, N.L., and appointed a temporary administrator to oversee the affairs of the Conception Bay North community of nearly 1,700 residents.
In a letter to ousted town councillors obtained by CBC News, Minister Chris Tibbs wrote that the decision was in the "best interest" of the town after weeks of infighting and dysfunction. This includes a chaotic meeting on Tuesday night that saw a majority of councillors improperly vote to remove Frank E. Clarke from the mayor's post, and a tense exchange witnessed by CBC News in the council chamber on Wednesday afternoon.
Tibbs wrote that "all seven members of the town council … can no longer act for or on behalf of the town or exercise the functions, powers or authority vested in the town council."
Tibbs added that the decision does not preclude Clarke and the other members of council from seeking nomination in the town's next municipal election. The letter did not indicate a timeframe for holding new elections.
Tibbs wrote that he acted under the authority granted under the Towns and Local Service Districts Act, and has appointed Christopher Stamp, the department's director of municipal support, as the town's administrator.
The decision to dismiss the council comes just two months after the members were sworn in on Oct. 16, following elections on Oct. 2, and follows weeks of turmoil among councillors that often spilled over into public meetings.
The chaos reached a boiling point during Tuesday's meeting, when councillor David White made a motion to have the mayor removed from council over allegations of harassment, bullying and intimidation against other councillors and town employees, and frustration that Clarke had not completed his conflict of interest disclosure document within the 30-day deadline to do so.
Councillors also accused the mayor of other violations of the code of conduct, including directing staff to sand and salt private driveways and making other decisions without the approval of council.
Five councillors — White, deputy mayor Denise Baker and councillors Jim Layden, Kelly Loch and Freeman Parsons — supported the motion to evict Clarke from the mayor's chair.
The lone dissenter was councillor Shelley Dawe.
However, council learned the next day the motion did not follow the proper procedures and protocols for vacating a seat on the town council.
And late on Wednesday afternoon, councillors received a dismissal letter from Tibbs.
"This is very sad as we had new and eager councillors ready to learn and serve our town," Loch wrote in a message to CBC News.
She could not say whether she will seek re-election, but added she is "still committed to our citizens."
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