The Town of Gibsons is forging ahead with changing its municipal election procedures, despite not having all of council in full agreement with aspects of the changes.
Procedure changes that made first reading at the Tuesday, April 5, council meeting included the use of automated voting machines as well as the appointment of a chief elections officer outside the Town of Gibsons. Council agreed on these matters, but were clearly divided on the issue of mail-in ballots, sparking a lively discussion.
Mayor Barry Janyk expressed deep concern with the mail-in ballot procedure and its potential problematic impact on Town staff.
"The last thing any of us want is to see a new and more complicated system for voting that could once again be challenged in the courts on some finite technicality, similar to what occurred in 2008 and 2009," Janyk said. "I can't support it."
Coun. Gerry Tretick expressed his dissatisfaction with Janyk's statement, calling it a weak argument.
"The voting population has been dropping and here we're trying to increase it," Tretick said. "I don't think we would have the recommendation to go forward with [mail-in ballots] if it was a huge problem. I think what we're trying to do is encourage people to exercise their franchise to vote, no matter where they are."
Coun. Wayne Rowe echoed Tretick's sentiment on the issue.
Council is expected to give further readings on the bylaws in the coming weeks.
Grants
Decisions were made on the first round of grants-of-assistance awards that a variety of local groups and organizations will receive. Council said funding requests exceeded the allotted budget, but there will be a second intake in September for applicants. First round funding amounts ranged from $500 to $3,000.
Appointments
At the start of Tuesday's meeting, the Town officially welcomed new chief administrator Warren Waycheshin and interim corporate officer Lonny Miller. Both took the oath of office as administered by acting corporate officer Michael Epp.
VOICE liaison
Tretick announced that after a recent meeting with the VOICE of the Sunshine Coast group, council would be appointing a liaison to act as a channel of communication to relay info between VOICE and council. VOICE is a non-profit organization assembled to act as an advocate for the "younger generation" on the Sunshine Coast.
