Petition declared insufficient; borrowing bylaw to proceed

By Rob Vogt, Local Press Writer

A petition calling for a plebiscite on a borrowing bylaw for $2.8 million to convert the former Claresholm Elementary School building into a new town hall and community multi-use facility has been declared insufficient and council will proceed with the bylaw at its next meeting.

The announcement was made at a special meeting of Claresholm town council in front of a packed gallery in council chambers on Monday night, June 18.

Marian Carlson the town’s chief administrative officer, explained she received a petition on June 11 and had 45 days to determine if it was sufficient.

As the suspense grew, Carlson outlined the various reasons a signature could be excluded from a petition.

If the petition was valid, council would have the choice of holding a plebiscite of electors or withdrawing the bylaw.

She then declared the petition was insufficient.

Cheers and applause erupted from the gallery and from people sitting around the council table behind the councillors because that was the only room available in the chambers.

Carlson said she attached a reconciliation of petitioners to the report she presented to council.

There were a total of 415 petition signatures received.

All 415 were excluded for various reasons.

A total of 414 were excluded because there was no date on the document.

One was excluded because it had a date but there was no proper legal or civic address.

“Which leaves us with zero valid petitions which becomes insufficient,” Carlson said.

“That’s a technicality,” said Coun. Donna Courage.

Carlson then referred to Section 225 of the Municipal Government Act outlining specifically what must be excluded.

“I have no authority other than what’s laid out in the act,” Carlson said. “I have no discretion.”

Courage said why not then wait a week instead of costing tax payers money by holding a special meeting of council.

Mayor Doug MacPherson said he was volunteering his time that night.

“I’m not billing for tonight,” he added.

Council then voted to accept Carlson’s report with everyone in favour except Courage who was opposed.

MacPherson said council now had to decide what to do.

There are options. One is to hold a plebiscite, and he asked Carlson what the cost would be.

She responded about $3,600.

Another option is to continue on with the borrowing bylaw.

Council agreed to do just that, passing a motion to bring the borrowing bylaw forth to the June 25 meeting of council for further readings.

All of council voted in favour of that motion, except Courage who was opposed.

“I would just like to thank the community of Claresholm for all this support,” MacPherson said.

More applause and cheers followed that statement.

With that, the meeting adjourned.