Rocky Mountain House town council was busy filling a bevy of vacancies stemming from the Aug. 13 resignation of Mayor Debbie Baich, and the absence of Coun. Dale Shippelt.
Coun. Marley Capraro automatically became acting mayor following Baich’s resignation, but the question of the provincially-mandated appointment of deputy mayor remained.
The order of succession for deputy mayor was discussed by council, as CAO Dean Krause said normally the next-in-line would be the absent Coun. Shippelt.
Coun. Tina Hutchinson suggested council’s newest member, Ken Moesker, be appointed deputy mayor, as he was not on the roster as he was elected after the deputy mayor schedule was finalized.
The motion to appoint Moesker as deputy mayor passed unanimously. He will serve a term from Aug. 20 to Oct. 31, 2024.
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Shippelt is next in line for deputy mayor with a term set to begin Nov. 1, 2024. Coun. Tina Hutchinson would then serve the final eight month term of the administration starting spring 2025.
Council unanimously granted Shippelt a leave of absence with pay until Oct. 31, 2024. Shippelt has been absent from council since early summer for personal reasons.
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READ MORE: Marley Capraro to serve additional four months as Rocky Mountain House deputy mayor
READ MORE: Debbie Baich resigns as mayor of Rocky Mountain House
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With acting mayor Capraro recusing herself, council also passed a motion to have the acting mayor receive the same renumeration as mayor, as it bears the same added work and responsibilities.
As of the 2023 financial statement, the mayor of Rocky Mountain House received an annual honorarium of $51,000.
In addressing the vacant mayor seat, the two options Krause outlined for council’s discretion are to hold a byelection on Nov. 25, 2024, or send a letter to Minister of Municipal Affairs, Ric McIver, to request an exemption.
Council unanimously opted to request an extension. Should it be granted, one or more acting mayors would be in place until the next scheduled municipal election in October 2025.
Coun. Hutchinson mentioned sending the letter is prudent, as a November 2024 byelection would be within the window of time the Province would automatically grant an exemption.
Coun. Dave Auld inquired about the possibility of council keeping one acting mayor in place for the remainder of the term, and to keep the deputy mayor schedule unchanged- an item that’s set to be revisited in late October.
Newly appointed deputy mayor Ken Moesker noted that council naming one acting mayor hinges upon the Province’s response to the byelection exemption request.
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READ MORE: Capraro becomes acting mayor, council to discuss deputy mayor appointments, possible byelection
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Council also raced to fill committee appointments previously held by former mayor Baich.
Coun. Len Phillips will head up the Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP) committee with Coun. Hutchinson as alternate.
Ken Moesker will chair the Policing Committee with acting mayor Capraro as alternate.
Phillips will also lead the Intermunicipal Developement Plan (IDP) with deputy mayor Moesker as alternate.
The committee appointments are set to be reviewed during the organizational meeting Oct. 15, 2024.
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