Council byelection set for Jan. 14

Town council passed a bylaw last night to officially call a byelection to fill the vacant seat, with Monday, Jan. 14 set as election day.
With a byelection now declared, council also set Nov. 30 as the deadline for nominations. Starting today, individuals interested in running for council can drop by the Civic Centre and pick up a nomination form.
A person may put their name forward to run for council by filing a nomination form with the clerk’s office in person or by an agent up until Nov. 30.
There is a $100 fee.
The term of office is the remainder of the four-year term of the current council, which ends Nov. 30, 2010.
Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig said last night that the town clerk has been looking at voting options, and suggested using polling stations (where the electorate votes in person) as opposed to a mail-in ballot.
McCaig noted using this more traditional voting system may end up costing between $10,000-12,000, as opposed to mail-in ballots, which costs about $20,000.
Polls will be open Monday, Jan. 7 and remain open through Saturday, Jan. 12, and then again Monday, Jan 14. Polls will close at 8 p.m. on election day.
Volunteer town staff will count the ballots that night.
Voters either can vote in person or, if need be, by proxy.
Voter notification forms will go out immediately after Nov. 30, and eligible voters can vote by proxy at that time in case they’re not gong to be around to vote in person in January.
McCaig noted that after Nov. 30, the town will start promoting the election, the days people can vote, and how voting by proxy will work.
However, some members of council took objection to this format and it still may change down the road.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•approved a break-open ticket licence application from the Fort Frances Aquanauts at Sparky’s Confectionary from Oct. 23, 2007-April 23, 2008;
•referred a report from municipal planner Faye Flatt regarding an appeal of consent from Victoria and David Gillon to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a report from the municipal planner regarding an appeal of consent from William F. Naturkach and Mary M. Ducharme to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a request from Lowery’s Northland Basics regarding a loading zone on Victoria Avenue to the Planning and Development executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a request from the Fort Frances Times regarding advertising in the 2008 Northwestern Ontario Vacation Guide Map to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation; and
•passed a bylaw to approve a contract with Engineering Northwest Ltd. for professional services.