Melancthon loses electors and a County seat : Shelburne Free Press : https://shelburnefreepress.ca

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Melancthon loses electors and a County seat

A drop in the number of voters on the electors' list has lost Melancthon Township a seat at the County, landing a blow to the resource rich community which says it needs more than one voice at the upper tier level. Melancthon Township's Chief Administrative Officer Denise Holmes stated, “At the end of the election in 2010, the Township had 2,631 electors. Over the past four years the Township has lost 180 electors for a total of 2,451 at the end of the day on October 27, 2014. This is due to persons being removed from the elector's lists because they passed away; tenants have moved out of the Township; children have moved away from home and the demolition of homes by the Highland Companies. Tenants of properties won't necessarily be on the list and it is up to them to make sure they are on it.”
The Township will still retain its two votes at County Council. Mayor elect, and soon Melancthon's only representative at County Council, Darren White says, “it means that there is one less voice at the table, that being the voice of a well spoken, knowledgeable member of Melancthon Council in our new Deputy Mayor Janice Elliot. I believe it is a loss not only to Melancthon but to the County of Dufferin as a whole.” “At the end of the day, Melancthon still has the same number of votes at County,” says Denise Holmes, “but those two votes will be cast by one member instead of having two members sitting at the table with one vote each. Ms. Elliott is very knowledgeable and she does her homework on issues before making decisions. She would have brought a wealth of experience to the County table as she has been through some major issues in the Township over the last few years.”
Based on the weighted vote, in the new term of County Council, the Town of Orangeville will possess 13 votes; Mono Township five votes; Shelburne three votes; and two votes each for Melancthon, Mulmur, Amaranth, East Garafraxa, and the Town of Grand Valley. With one voice/two votes and very different priorities to an urban centre like Orangeville, the rural township of Melancthon, an essential steward of food land and water for the province holds very little power at County Council.
Current Mayor of Melancthon and County Warden Bill Hill said, “The Dufferin County Act states that seats (and votes) are allocated by population. 2500 registered voters is the baseline for a seat. Melancthon fell below that by 49 votes and therefore lost a seat at the table.” He said the two seats would have given “Melancthon Council a two pronged approach to exactly what transpired at County and in the event someone is sick at least one vote could be counted. This way if Darren is sick Melancthon's view will not be heard.”
Darren White, Mayor in the next term starting December 1st, says he has “been working on the county seat issue since the election. During the election, when I encountered people not on the list, I suggested they fill out the amendment to the voters list form and submit it.” Melancthon residents, especially tenants, needing more information about getting on the voters list can call the Township office at 519 925-5525 or email at info@melancthontownship.ca

By Marni Walsh

Post date: 2014-11-19 15:13:46
Post date GMT: 2014-11-19 20:13:46
Post modified date: 2014-11-26 11:37:31
Post modified date GMT: 2014-11-26 16:37:31