Collison Elected Mayor in Secret Ballot

Cr Collison was elected Mayor this morning in a secret ballot, while all three new candidates who achieved quota on primary votes we thwarted from any Council positions or motions.

The Vote for Mayor:

Unlike previous Mayoral votes, Cr Collison moved a motion for the ballot for Mayor to be secret.

• Six Councillors voted to support the secrecy: Cr Collison, Cr Shields, Cr Ryan, Cr Williamson, Cr McPhee, and Cr Clout.
• Three Councillors voted against the secrecy: Cr Fraser, Cr McGill and Cr Stolz.

Cr Collison was then elected Mayor 6 votes to 3 votes for Cr Fraser.

Mayor Collison said, “…I’ll do my best to head this Shire in the right direction I believe we have been going pretty comfortably.” He thanked his supporters and told his fellow Councillors he’d work with them, if they worked with him.

Term of Deputy Mayor:

Cr McGill moved a motion that the term of Deputy Mayor should be 1 year.

• Six Councillors voted against: Cr Collison, Cr Shields, Cr Ryan, Cr Williamson, Cr McPhee, and Cr Clout.
• Three Councillors voted for: Cr Fraser, Cr McGill and Cr Stolz.

Deputy Mayor:

Initially three Councillors were nominated for the position, Cr McGill, Cr Williamson and Cr Ryan. All Councillors tied at 3 votes each, so a name was drawn to be excluded, which was Cr Williamson. Councillors then voted for Cr McGill and Cr Ryan.

Cr Ryan was voted in as Deputy Mayor with six votes, to three votes for Cr McGill.

By-Election:

Should a position become available in the first 18 months of Council, Council can choose to hold an election for the position, or select the next candidate in election, in this case it would be offered to James Burns.  

• Six Councillors voted for offering the position to one of the failed candidates: Cr Collison, Cr Shields, Cr Ryan, Cr Williamson, Cr McPhee, and Cr Clout.
• Three Councillors opposed, preferring an election: Cr Fraser, Cr McGill and Cr Stolz.  

Audit and Risk Committee:

Two Councillors were nominated to be a non-voting member on the audit and risk committee, Cr Williamson and Cr Stolz.

• Six Councillors voted for Cr Williamson: Cr Collison, Cr Shields, Cr Ryan, Cr Williamson, Cr McPhee, and Cr Clout.
• Three Councillors voted for Cr Stolz: Cr Fraser, Cr McGill and Cr Stolz.