DIDSBURY - Didsbury's council is expected to decide next month whether to hold a bylection to fill the seat vacated by Joyce McCoy in September.
Council has received information about the possibility of holding a byelection to fill the vacant council seat vacated by McCoy, who resigned on Sept. 23.
The information in the form of a briefing note from administration was received during the Oct. 8 council meeting, held in person and online.
Section 162 of the provincial Municipal Government Act (MGA) requires that “council hold a byelection to fill a vacancy unless the county consists of six or more councillors and the vacancy occurs in the 18 months before a general election and there is only one vacancy, or in the 12 months before a general election and the number of councillors remaining is at least one more that the majority of the number of councillors.”
The next general election is set for Oct. 20, 2025; therefore council does have the option to not hold a byelection unless they wish to do so, chief administrative officer Ethan Gorner said in the note.
“The cost to hold a byelection is essentially the same as holding a full election, depending on how may candidates run for a vacant position,” he said.
“Administration has a proposed budget of $28,500 for the 2025 municipal general election. The amount for a byelection would likely be slightly less, with the larger costs being hiring election workers, supplies and advertising.
“A reasonable amount to estimate would be $10,000 to $15,000; there will also be additional costs for a new computer and orientation for the new councillor.”
Council carried a motion receiving the briefing note as information and instructing administration to bring the matter back to the Nov. 12 council meeting for a decision on whether to establish a byelection.
Councillors Ethan Gorner and Bill Windsor did not attend the Oct. 8 council meeting.
