New Mayerthorpe council holds first meeting, elect deputy mayor

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There were mostly new faces when Mayerthorpe town council gathered for its first meeting since the Oct. 20 municipal election. 

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Mayor A.J. Malcolm presided over the Oct. 27 organizational meeting, where councillors chose a deputy mayor and who would be authorized to sign cheques for the Town of Mayerthorpe.

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“I want to make it clear that a lot of people here are new at this role,” Malcolm said during the meeting.

“I believe that patience is needed and would be encouraged as well as respected. Moving forward, I see nothing but great things for this town.”

Newcomers include Malcolm himself, who had never served on town council before. He unseated incumbent Mayor Janet Jabush in the election.

Also new to the table were councillors Rick Armstrong, Bridgette Campbell, James Mason (who was previously a councillor in the 2010s) and Annette Pedersen.

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Councillors Becky Wells and Esther Sonnenberg were the only councillors from the last term who were re-elected (Sandy Morton and Anna Greenwood didn’t run; Morton was elected to the school board instead).

Both Wells and Sonnenberg expressed interest in the role of deputy mayor, who chairs meetings in the mayor’s absence.

Mason questioned why council was being asked to elect a deputy mayor for a one-year term, when the position used to rotate among all councillors every few months.

That rule was changed in 2023. At the Oct. 27 meeting, Malcolm said “forcing a role” on anyone not ready wouldn’t be fair.

Mason then nominated Sonnenberg, and Campbell nominated Wells for deputy mayor.

The nominations triggered a debate over whether councillors would elect the deputy mayor openly or by secret ballot. Chris Leggett, town chief administrative officer (CAO), said an open vote was the typical practice.

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Mason’s motion to use a secret ballot was carried with Armstrong, Malcolm and Sonnenberg supporting.

After ballots were distributed, handed back and counted, Wells was elected, 6–1.

Campbell’s motion to appoint Wells as deputy mayor for a one-year term was carried unanimously, with all councillors present.

Council then discussed appointing signing officers. The officers sign council minutes, bylaws, agreements and town cheques, Leggett said.

Recording Secretary Sandy Stokes said the mayor, CAO, herself and all councillors were listed as signing officers.

“It’s operationally good to have as many people as we can,” Leggett said.

Although the mayor and CAO will sign “nine times out of 10,” sometimes they won’t be available, Leggett told council. 

Armstrong’s motion to grant all councillors signing authority was carried unopposed.

Council also reviewed the CAO agreement policy. Leggett said the agreement allows an annual performance role of the CAO and outlines how the council and CAO collaborate.

The CAO oversees municipal administration and the implementation of town policies and advises council on operations, according to Alberta’s Municipal Government Act.

bquarin@postmedia.com

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