RUNNING FOR MUNICIPAL COUNCIL: What you need to know

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1 1. How Municipal Government is Structured The council of the Town of Rosetown has a mayor (elected at large) and six (6) councillors. Contact the administrator of your municipality for further information. 2. Council Roles and Powers A municipality is the first front-line level of government. The elected council is the governing body of the municipality. Elected officials make decisions by passing resolutions, setting policies or enacting bylaws. Bylaws are the laws of the municipality. If elected as a member of council, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of your municipality. If you are running with some kind of reform in mind, you will need to know what bylaws and policies are in place. Examples of local documents you may want to refer to are the meeting minutes, council procedure bylaw, and the zoning bylaw. However, any ideas or proposed changes you have in mind cannot be achieved without the support of other council members. Council s Role Municipal council derives their authority from The Municipalities Act. Council s main role is to make decisions about the services the municipality provides to its citizens. Council establishes policies about what essential core services to provide, how those services will be delivered and at what levels, such as: Roads and transportation; Water treatment and sewer facilities; Snow and garbage removal; Recreation facilities and programs; Land use planning and economic development; Building code regulations; Crime prevention; Fire prevention; Animal control; and Emergency planning. The municipal administrator (or administration) is then charged with implementing those policies. Council relies on the support, advice and assistance of the administration throughout the decision-making process.

2 Council s Power RUNNING FOR MUNICIPAL COUNCIL: Municipalities have natural person powers, with some limitations, and governmental powers, which are those specifically authorized by legislation. Natural person powers mean that a municipality has the same privileges as an ordinary citizen and can take actions not explicitly set out in legislation. Examples of such powers may include entering into contracts, hiring staff and acquiring property. For more information about the Acts governing Saskatchewan s municipal legislation, visit the Queen s Printer. Council Responsibilities Accepting elected office is one of the highest orders of public service. It offers the opportunity to significantly influence the quality of life in your community. The Municipalities Act provides the basic legislative framework for Saskatchewan s southern municipalities. Council members must know and comply with federal and provincial legislation, laws and codes. Council s responsibility is to make decisions about municipal services, establish policies and provide direction for the operation of the municipality in a manner which encourages participation in the governance process. Councils have numerous powers, duties and responsibilities. Council is legislatively responsible to ensure that: A. a municipal office is named in Saskatchewan: o for Citizens to attend to make payments, receive information and report concerns; o for Council meetings (which are required to be held in an open and transparent manner where the public may be present to observe) B. a qualified administrator is appointed for the municipality; C. the municipality s assessment is confirmed by SAMA each year; D. all decisions are made by resolution or bylaw; E. at least one council person or other person is designated to sign cheques. The administrator is required to be the other signatory unless the administrator has been authorized to delegate this duty to another employee; F. a fidelity bond is obtained annually for the administrator and any other employee as required; G. Workers Compensation coverage is obtained for workers, employees and labour contractors; H. all meetings are held in public;

3 I. a quorum is required at all meetings; J. a records retention schedule is established; K. public notice is provided when a regular meeting date is changed; L. public notice bylaw is adopted and public notice is provided prior to considering any of the following: o any report to close, lease or sell a municipal street or road; o any report to dispose of public land used for park purposes; o a petition for a public meeting with respect to a municipal restructuring, establishing an organized hamlet or incorporating a resort village or village; o any report to increase/decrease the number of councillors in a municipality; o the initial consideration to divide the municipality into wards; o the report completed by the wards commission with respect to the establishment of boundaries is completed and open for public inspection at the municipal office during normal business hours; o holding a public hearing and deciding a matter after a public hearing pursuant to this or any other Act; o borrowing money, lending money or guaranteeing the repayment of a loan; o establishing a purchasing policy; o selling or leasing land for less than fair market value and without a public offering; o selling or leasing mines and minerals owned by the municipality; o setting remuneration for members of council and for members of council committees and other bodies established by the council; o establishing a business improvement district; o prohibiting or limiting the operation of a business or class of business; o amending or repealing of referendum bylaws or resolutions; o holding a public meeting of the voters; o any report with respect to special taxes; and o using any excess revenue generated from special taxes. M. an operating and capital budget is adopted each year prior to authorize the tax levy; N. the municipality s audited financial statement and the auditor s report is submitted to the minister by July 1 of each year; O. an auditor is appointed for the municipality and its controlled corporations; P. a tax levy is authorized on all assessments of the municipality; Q. streets and roads are kept in a reasonable state of repair; R. a water rate policy is adopted by bylaw or resolution; S. an emergency plan is adopted; and T. a board of revision is appointed. Your administrator will provide guidance and valuable information in this area.

4 3. Time Commitment Being elected to your local council means a big time commitment on your part. It's important not to underestimate the amount of time and dedication required to be an effective member of council, especially if you have a full-time job as well. If elected, you will serve a four-year term. During that time, you should plan to attend the following: Regular and special council meetings; Meetings of council committees; Meetings of other boards and agencies as a representative of council; Conferences, seminars, workshops, and conventions for training and discussion; and Events that promote or represent your municipality. You may also need to spend a significant amount of time talking to the public, businesses, colleagues in other municipalities, municipal staff and your administrator. Continuing interaction with these groups is an essential part of making an informed decision as a council member. 4. Campaigning for Election The purpose of campaigning is to convince electors you are the best candidate for the job and it involves talking to people, distributing brochures and posters, and perhaps paid media advertising. Rules regarding proper campaign procedures can be found within The Local Government Election Act, 2015: During the hours that a poll is open, no candidate, no agent of any candidate nor any other person shall, in the polling place or within 100 metres of the building in which the poll is held: (a) canvass or solicit votes; (b) persuade or compel a person to vote or refrain from voting; (c) make any communication to a person regarding any matters relating to voting or the election, other than through the deputy returning officer; or (d) display, distribute or post a campaign sign, a specimen ballot for a person whose name is on the ballot for election, or any other material purporting to explain how to

5 vote, or leave any of the preceding materials in a voting compartment, except as provided by this Act. and The Controverted Municipal Elections Act (bribery and threats). Every printed advertisement referencing an election must contain the name and address of the person who has authorized its printing, display and distribution. All campaigning shall be conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct for members of Council. 5. Responsibilities Once Elected If you become a member of a municipal council, you must take an Oath of Office in the prescribed form prior to carrying out any power, duty or function as a member of that council and a Code of Conduct for Members of Council. Within 30 days of being elected to council, you must complete and sign a Public Disclosure Statement listing your employer, land holdings, business interests and contracts. This statement must be reviewed yearly and updated when required to ensure its accuracy. Your Oath of Office and Public Disclosure Statement are accessible public documents. All decisions of council must be made at meetings open to the public with a majority of council members present. At these meetings, it is important for council members to listen to each other and collectively reach decisions that are in the best interests of the municipality. An individual member of council, including the mayor, does not have the authority to commit the municipality to any expenditure or direct the activities of municipal employees. Copies of the Code of Conduct and Public Disclosure Statement are enclosed. Conflict of Interest Rules for Council A conflict of interest occurs when an elected official s private interests, or a closely connected person s interests may, or may appear to, be affected by a council decision. A financial interest is always a conflict of interest. If as a council member you think you may have a conflict of interest, you must declare the nature of the interest before any discussion occurs, leave council chambers and not vote or discuss the matter with other council members before, during, or after the matter is being considered or decided.

6 Responsibilities Council members' individual responsibilities are grouped as follows: Representation and Accountability A councillor's responsibility is to serve the people who elected them to office. A councillor should engage regularly with the public to take into account the views and concerns of all members of a community when voting on matters of concern. Governance Municipal council is responsible for shaping the future of the municipality by implementing new policy, by-laws and community goals. Many decisions that council makes are the result of extensive community consultation, research and advice from community members and groups. It is important for council to remember that they must represent the people who voted them to office. Failure to do so may result in a limited term in office. Management Members of council are generally responsible for ensuring that the Administrator follows through on the policies, priorities and direction that council has set forth. Council members should also expect to be active members of committees and boards in the community to ensure that they possess the required knowledge to pass on to council. If you are elected to office, you will not be starting off from scratch. There will be local legislation existing in the form of bylaws, which will remain in effect until they are amended or repealed. In addition, individual members of council are not permitted to make decisions on their own on behalf for the municipality. Any election promises you made during your campaign can only be carried out if you can convince a majority of council that it is in the best interest of the municipality.

7 6. First Meeting of Council In accordance with The Municipalities Act: (1) First meeting of council 121(1) The first meeting of a council following a general election is to be held: (a) within 31 days after the date of the election; and (b) at a time, date and place determined by the administrator. (2) The administrator shall provide written notice of the time, date and place of the first meeting of the council to all members of council at least 24 hours before the meeting. Please note: Following the election the Administrator will forward the necessary correspondence to the elected officials regarding their first Council meeting. 7. By-Election will be held at the Town Office as follows: Advance Poll Thursday, April 19, 2018 from 7:00 pm 9:00 p.m. Election Day Wednesday, April 25, 2018 from 9:00 am 8:00 p.m.