The question is asked on the Citizen Blog. It's a good one. Not everyone understands .
A Councillor is elected. Not appointed; retained, hired , contracted or commissioned nor wedged into office.
A Councillor is chosen by a sufficient number of voters, to represent them in the process of town business.
A Councillor is not subject to the authority of any other person.
A Councillor may not take his/her seat at the table, without first swearing an Oath of Office. Breach of the Oath is an offence
under the criminal Law of Canada.
A Councillor is subject to Provincial law as stated by various Acts.
Conduct of a Councillor,during a Council meeting is governed by the Procedure Bylaw, specifically the section that contains Rules of Order for debate.
The Municipal Act requires a Council seat not occupied for a period of three months is automatically vacant.
Otherwise, A Councillor cannot be fired, suspended ,terminated,
placed on leave with pay or leave without pay or edged out for any reason whatsoever..
The will of the people established through proper election cannot be upended.
Councillor Gaertner has been successfully elected three times consecutively.
She is not only entitled, she is obligated to exercise her own judgement.
She is entitled to the respect due to her office. She is the people's representative as much as any other member at the table.
I refused to attend a memorable in- camera meeting at which a fateful decision was made in the last term.
(It was not the only closed door meeting I refused to attend)
A Critical comment had been directed against the Mayor on another blog. It was referred to an in-camera meeting.
I took the position, it was not town business; no issue for council deliberation.
Councillor Gaertner believed differently and attended. As did six other members.
In a Federal or Provincial government, where political parties prevail, a member who brings disrepute to the party can be expelled from the party and forced to sit as an independent.
He/she cannot be unseated.
Throughout a term of office, a Member of Parliament, Member of Provincial Parliament, also know as Member of the Legislative Assembly, cannot be deprived of the title, remuneration or any other perks the office entitles them.
It's the system whereby we govern ourselves. We are free to choose those whom we wish to represent us. Once the decision is made, for better or for worse, in sickness or in health, no person may intervene.
Hope that helps.
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
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15 comments:
Wendy Gaertner is entitled to no respect due to her office.
I would like to see a cross section of the people who elected her three times.
All democracies should have legislation allowing the right to recall any elected representative. This is currently under way in the state of Wisconsin.
A similar procedure several years ago in California resulted in the election of Arnold Schwarzenegger as Governor when the sitting governor was recalled.
Unacceptable behaviour is no excuse for respect.
Councillor Buck - I wrote that comment to the Aurora Citizen and your clarification in MUCH appreciated - it still does'nt change the fact that I think Ms. Gaertner is a complete imbilcile - just my opinion of course!
Are there grounds for demanding the resignation of an elected representative to any of the three levels of government?
If so, what are they?
Perhaps it is time to change the law so that those who vote can recant when an elected official is considered to be delinquent in exercising their duties.
Respect is earned - not owed. However, the office of councillor has earned respect and as a consequence the people in that office should have the respect of the office. You can have disdain for the person, you can have disdain for the way the person executes the office, but that is all.
Recalls are granted when there is a specified number wanting said recall. For a councillor that has been elected for 3 consecutive terms how do you suppose you will have enough votes to get a recall?
You should also be careful about what you wish for... how many people would vote for a recall of Ms Buck (if you consider how many are supposedly linked to MorMac)?
Anonymous at 3:17 pm
This is a quote, allegedly from John Nance Garner, soon after he accepted the vice presidential nomination from FDR in 1932:
The office of vice president "is not worth a bucket of warm spit."
Any political office is simply a space waiting to be occupied. It is the individual who fills this space who does or does not earn our respect.
The tide can turn on any politician, regardless of how many times elected. The recall legislation specifies the number wanting same. This can change depending on the jurisdiction.
Point of Clarification from Council Meeting, please.
The good news is that it sounds as though farmers could refuse to sign that dumb Code of Conduct because the Market REALLY needs farmers. Would Jan qualify as a ' farmer ' because of her ' produce ' or is that a specifically-meant term to refer to what we usually consider to be farmers? Wonder if there is a reason why the Market is needful of farmers. Could it be something in the air that drives them elsewhere? Do we know if any Aurora area farmers are attending the Newmarket Market. Perhaps Christopher could find out for us?
3:17 PM
Whoever said that there were many linked to Mormac?
The election showed exactly how few supporters the former council could muster. Hasn't changed a bit. They are just noisy and expensive in relation to their number.
Oh, for goodness sake, get a grip, 3:17. It is a broad discussion. No one would waste the effort on recalling Councillor Gaertner. She and Gallo are simply residuals.
More on how the system works. Harper has hired a private litigation lawyer to represent him in the Helen G. case about how they treated her.
Arizona recalled a Governor years ago. But if you cast an eye on Congress these days, not much has changed.
Oh, Evelyn:
Enough of the pontificating about how marvellously we govern ourselves.
We are only free to choose from among those who put forward their names. We are very seldom free to choose those whom we wish to represent us.
A good deal of the time the candidates are real losers.
To prove my point look at the candidates for mayor in 2010 and look at the number of votes they received.
There was really no choice; Geoff Dawe was the only viable option.
Remember, you are suing one of the losers.
Her election in 2006 was possible only as a result of Nigel's presence on the ballot. Blame him for her.
Well, stone me now, as I am one of the townspeople who voted for Ms.Gaertner.
A few times. She had my back for kids issues in her first session as councillor. Her confusing behavior only became apparent in 2009-2010, and has blossomed since. Yet, every once in a while, she can actually add value to a debate. If she just threw away her scripted comments, she would do much better. There IS a sense of entertainment value to her discussions, don't you think?
All of us can make mistakes, including voting for someone who eventually disappoints.
But we should learn from our mistakes.
The percentage of Gaertner's vocalizing that makes sense has become minimal in recent years.
All she does is make Council meetings take longer and causes people's blood pressure to rise.
If her sole use is entertainment she should apply for a role at the theatre.
We have all goofed when voting. No one can cast aspersions at another.
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