Brock launches open call to fill vacant Regional Councillor seat

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

BROCK: Council has officially declared the office of Regional Councillor vacant, following Mayor Mike Jubb’s acclamation earlier this summer. The decision came during a Council meeting, on Monday, September 8th, when members also approved a new Council Vacancy Policy, designed to ensure transparency in filling seats mid-term.

The vacancy stems from Mr. Jubb’s swearing-in as Mayor earlier this year, on July 28th. Under the Municipal Act, a councillor’s former seat must be declared vacant when they are elected or appointed to another position on the same council.

Deputy CAO and Clerk, Fernando Lamanna presented the detailed report and draft policy, outlining the municipality’s options. “This policy provides Council and the public with a clear, step-by-step framework for filling vacancies,” Mr. Lamanna explained. “It’s about accountability, fairness, and making sure residents can trust the process.”

Mayor Jubb praised the work, calling it “an important step for Council and the community.” He added: “We want residents to know this will be done openly and fairly. This isn’t just about filling a seat, it’s about strengthening trust in how we operate, going forward.”

The report laid out three possible approaches:

Council could directly appoint a qualified individual, which could include a sitting or former councillor, a past candidate, or any eligible resident.

A second option was to hold an open call for applications, allowing qualified residents to apply and address Council, at a public meeting, at a cost of about $1,500 for advertising.

The third option was a by-election, estimated at $120,000, which staff described as the most democratic option but also the most expensive and time-consuming, with a voting date not possible until late December or January.

While acknowledging a by-election would give voters a direct voice, Mr. Lamanna noted, the high cost and tight timeline, before the 2026 general election, made it impractical.

Council ultimately voted to proceed with the open call process. Applications opened on Tuesday, September 9th, and are set to close on Friday, September 26th at 4 p.m. A Special Council Meeting will be held, on Wednesday, October 8th at 6 p.m., where candidates will present to Council, before a final decision is made.

“This is a chance for residents to step forward and contribute directly to local decision-making,” said Councillor Claire Doble. “It’s exciting to open this up to the community, and I think this approach strikes a middle ground. It gives residents a voice in the process without the high cost and delay of running a full by-election.”

Members of the public, interested in applying for the Regional Councillor position, can find more details and application forms on the Township’s elections webpage, at https://www.townshipofbrock.ca/municipal-office/elections/.