The province will appoint a municipal advisor to work with McBride after three councillors resigned earlier this month, leaving the village council without quorum. For the time being the Minister of Community said the two remaining members will keep quorum until a byelection is held.
"It is unfortunate the community has found itself in the situation of being without quorum on their village council," said Peter Fassbender. "We recognize that a number of serious concerns have been raised within the community."
On Tuesday Fassbender said he signed a ministerial order to say Mayor Loranne Martin and Coun. Rick Thompson will constitute a quorum until new people are elected. Fassbender also had the choice of appointing members to serve on council to create a quorum.
But the current council of two has been told not to not make any long-term decisions or move forward with anything that could create legal or financial liabilities for the village.
"Their focus should only be on decisions essential to sustaining the operations of government," the statement said, adding the municipal advisor will work with village staff and council "to help stabilize municipal operations in the short term."
For the second time in the new council’s term, McBride will have to hold a byelection. It's the first order of business, and council has been tasked with appointing a chief electoral officer and deputy chief election office. Once hired, the CEO will have up to 80 days call call the general election, which will be held on a Saturday
"It is imperative that there is a clear path to order and good government so that community members interested in stepping forward as candidates in the by-election will have confidence in their road ahead," Fassbender said.
The village office directed all calls for comment to Martin. Martin’s voicemail was full and did not respond immediately to an email request for comment.
On Nov. 22 the village issued a statement from the mayor which said the three councillors - Sharon Reichert, Ralph Bezanson and Edith Tracy - refused to attend regular council meetings and held their own special meetings at times when Martin couldn’t attend. She said key community business couldn't be done and also said two former councillors faced a human rights claim and two faced a Work Safe BC claim of bullying and harassment.
“When the village indicated the Ministry and solicitor would attend a meeting to discuss this conduct, the three councillors resigned,” she said.
In a McBride discussion board Coun. Sharon Reichert called the statement an “outright lie.” Reichert did not respond to requests for a phone interview but in a Facebook message she said her “only hope is the issues can be sorted out.”
The latest upheaval brings the town’s tally of resignations to at least eight in less than two years. In spring 2015, four employees and one councillor resigned.
She cited "legal reasons" for not commenting on what concerns led to her resignation in an interview with The Rocky Mountain Goat News.
John Aitken, public works supervisor with the village, was reinstated by the village after he was fired by Martin the day after he attended a meeting about unionizing. Aitken chose not to return to work for the village.
In March 2015, CBC Daybreak North said Chief Administrative Officer Eliana Clements, Economic Development Officer Geoffrey Roy and Deputy Administrator Danielle Smith were all leaving their positions for various reasons. And former councillor Robert Callaghan resigned in March, citing political differences, The Rocky Mountain Goat News reported.
“The vision and direction I was hoping to pursue is unfortunately a different direction than what council is focusing on at this time,” Callaghan’s letter said.
The province has also called in the inspector of municipalities to offer information about the role of the municipal advisor "to further emphasize my expectations of council while they act in their limited capacity."
