Delegate to discuss possible recount denied due to lack of unanimous vote

A mayoral candidate from the Oct. 26 municipal election was denied the right to speak with a recount being the reported topic.

Councillor Diane Pouget put forth a motion to allow Bill Fryer the ability to speak at the Nov. 9 meeting but, according to the town’s procedural bylaw, he was denied due to a lack of unanimous consent. Councillor Linden Crain voted against the request.

Pouget said the request had to do with an e-mail sent on the weekend by Fryer. She said council was supposed to be supporting the “integrity and transparency of this town until Nov. 14 at midnight.” She said Fryer was not only a candidate for mayor but former police chief.

Prue asked Pouget at the meeting as to why Fryer wanted to speak, with Pouget said it would be for a recount for the mayor’s position.

According to the certified election results, Chris Gibb won the mayor’s race with 3,928 votes while Fryer had 3,284. Michael Prue, the incumbent candidate, finished with 1,704 votes.

Prue asked clerk Kevin Fox if it was in the town’s prerogative, with Fox stating the Municipal Elections Act allows council to provide direction to proceed with a recount. He added the procedural bylaw also allows for council to hear late deputations.

Gibb, the current deputy mayor as well as mayor-elect, said he would declare a conflict of interest out of an “abundance of caution.” Prue then believed he also would have a conflict, but added every council member who ran in the election could have a conflict then as well.

“Do we not count all of the ballots for every position including school board trustees?” asked Prue.

Fox said if a recount was granted, it would be for the whole ballot.

“The results we generated, if they were different for any office, we would have to deal with that,” said Fox.

Fox added that he could not comment or advise on whether a member was in conflict, stating they would have to check with the integrity commissioner.

Councillor Peter Courtney said the request was simply to speak on it.

“It doesn’t mean we’re acting on it,” he said. “If it comes to that matter where we’re acting on it, it could be a conflict potentially. As of now, it’s just to waive the rules of order to allow a delegation.”

Prue clarified the motion was to allow Fryer to speak and it failed due to a lack of unanimity, meaning the issue did not proceed further Monday night.

Delegate to discuss possible recount denied due to lack of unanimous vote

By Ron Giofu