No byelection, but appointment for Ward 5 vacancy

City council has opted to appoint a temporary representative for Ward 5 rather than hold a byelection.

The gap is left by Chad Collins, who became MP-elect for Hamilton East-Stoney Creek in the Sept. 20 federal election.

With his resignation official, council favoured an appointment process, citing the relatively short period an interim member would sit before a municipal election in October 2022.

If we were two years out, definitely, that would be the option that I would favour, but that's not where we're at," Mayor Fred Eisenberger said Wednesday.

Instead, after a 10-3 council vote favouring appointment, the city will start advertising the temporary position with an application deadline of Oct. 29.

Councillors Nrinder Nann, Brenda Johnson and Maureen Wilson were the objectors.

In a previous interview, Wilson told The Spectator the temporary council seat is a job for the people to decide."

To be eligible for potential appointment, applicants must be at least 18, a Canadian citizen, a Hamilton resident, be the owner or tenant of land in the city, or be the spouse of an owner or tenant. They can't be barred from voting or holding municipal office.

The city clerk will review applications to confirm eligibility before a special council meeting is held Nov. 12 to choose a successful candidate.

In the public process estimated to cost $10,000, hopefuls will make five-minute pitches to council about why they're best suited to temporarily take on the duties of the area that Collins had represented since 1995.

Once selected through a majority vote, the successful candidate would attend his or her inaugural meeting on Nov. 24.

By contrast, a byelection, which is estimated to cost $190,000, wouldn't be held until March 7.

Time is needed to line up vendors, to print ballots, for instance, obtain the voter list from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, allow for the nomination period and ensure public health measures during the pandemic, city clerk Andrea Holland said.

Coun. Maria Pearson said the interim Ward 5 representative would sit for a very short time" before the October 2022 municipal election, while more voter fatigue" will be an issue with Ontario also heading to the polls next June.

Eisenberger said he wants a candidate familiar with the area and municipal governance. Someone that knows the system and process and the culture would be helpful."

Wilson contended councillors should be able to ask candidates questions as part of the selection process. I mean, in any interview, you do that."

But most rejected that suggestion, with Eisenberger arguing grilling" candidates would not be fair."

Previously, when ward vacancies were filled by appointment, council followed a less formal process, simply selecting from names they'd pooled. The appointee would agree not to run in the next election, Eisenberger noted.

That worked brilliantly" with former mayor Bob Morrow, who filled in after the death of Ward 3 councillor Bernie Morelli in 2014, Coun. Sam Merulla said.

Similarly, former alderman Terry Anderson was appointed for Ward 7 after Donna Skelly won a provincial seat in Flamborough-Glanbrook in 2018.

But Skelly had won the ward seat in a 2016 byelection after Scott Duvall became MP for the Mountain.

Nann asked that the city's advertisements for the temporary position include wording that encourages equity-seeking communities to apply.

Teviah Moro is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: tmoro@thespec.com