NOV 25 /2009
By a vote of 35 to 82 the motion to tax the residents of the fire district $25.00 per household to fund the FVCC was defeated tonight.
117 ratepayes voted on the issue. A vigorous discussion followed a presentation by the FVCC Board. Nobody was injured.
Letter to Bill Butler and Municipal Councilors Nov/ 21/09
Dear Mr Butler
and Municipal Councilors Nov 21/09
I suggest that voting procedures be made uniform throughout the Bylaws where they pertain to such items as Area Rates and Private Road Maintenance charges etc. There are differences in this procedure as noted below ( 3.3.6) and the procedure we are bound by in the case of an area recreational rate for Hall's Harbour. In the Rec rate issue those listed on the tax bill and their spouses are allowed to vote essentially giving a property more than one and potentially several votes, if others are listed. This is clearly discriminatory to single people and multiple property owners. In the case below ( 3.3.6) it is one property, one vote which seems fair in cases where all properties will be burdened equally in the outcome, as is the case with a Recreational Rate.
The Notice of Meeting ( below 3.3.2) differs as well with it being necessary to notify each stakeholder by direct mail. This should be harmonized with the other related bylaws as well. All ratepayers should be notified well in advance of any vote of the issue at hand.
Another important difference is the in the forms of voting allowed. Proxy, electronic,telephone and "other reasonable means of voting" are allowed in the case below ( 3.3.6) but not in an Area Rate case. Again, the lack of differing forms of voting may ( and certainly does in the Hall's Harbour case) put those who cannot attend at a distinct disadvantage.
Simply put it seems that if the issue affects a property and all properties equally then the voting process should be fair and equal based on ownership of properties affected. One property, one vote. If you are taxed once you should get one vote and only one. If you are taxed several times you should be able to vote accordingly. I feel these issues need to be addressed and harmonized to allow the voting process in all forms of decisions on tax, rates, and fees to be on an equal footing. Please put this request before council for consideration.
See the bylaw clauses referred to below:
See Bylaw re Private Road Maintenance
3.3.6 Following the Applicant’s presentation to the meeting, support for the charge
shall be determined by majority vote of the Owners present at the meeting.
Proxy voting, telephone voting, and electronic voting or other reasonable
means of voting as determined by the meeting will be allowed for those Owners
unable to attend the meeting in person. Each Owner shall have one vote for
each lot they own, limited to one vote per lot if there are multiple Owners of one
lot.
3.3.2 Notice of said meeting shall be posted in no fewer than 5 conspicuous places
in the area to which the charge is to be applied, no less than 14 days prior to
the meeting. Notice of the meeting will also be made through direct mail to all
Owners of land which may be subject
