Municipal officials in Richmond Co. are no closer to adding a mayor to council.
A plan for community consultation regarding a switch from a warden to mayoral system was defeated at September’s regular municipal council meeting Monday.
Don Marchand, the municipality’s chief administrative officer, presented a plan for community consultation on adding a mayor to council during the meeting.
He said a conservative estimate for the cost, which would cover public meetings in 12 communities, would be between $3,000 and $3,500.
A motion from the plan tied 2-2, and in municipal politics, a tied motion is considered a defeated motion.
After the meeting, Brian Marchand, Richmond Co.’s warden, said that plan didn’t go through, but they still haven’t made a decision yet.
“As long as we do something before January, as long as we have something,” he said. “We could make a motion Jan. 20 to say that we’re doing it- we’re going mayor versus warden- and the process starts to go.”
Marchand said he isn’t sure if councillors will decide before then.
He said the question in the next election might get pushed to the 2024 municipal elections.
“Potentially, from discussion, it seems like it’ll be on the ballot one year from next month.”
Marchand said they can’t add a mayor until 2024 if they don’t make a decision by January.
