An “olive branch ” was extended in the Town of Athabasca chambers tonight, July 19, as council voted to rescind previous motions to to disqualify Mayor Roger Morrill and Coun. Tim Verhaeghe from council. At the tail end of the council meeting, Coun.
An “olive branch ” was extended in the Town of Athabasca chambers tonight, July 19, as council voted to rescind previous motions to to disqualify Mayor Roger Morrill and Coun. Tim Verhaeghe from council.
At the tail end of the council meeting, Coun. Tanu Evans moved to rescind the original motions, made in February, which stated that Morrill and Verhaeghe were to be disqualified as they were “liable ” to the Town of Athabasca.
“These two motions have done nothing but inflamed tensions, create an already hostile and destructive atmosphere even worse, ” Evans said. “So, I will make a motion now to rescind and withdraw my support from the motion on Feb. 8 stating that, ‘council finds Mayor Morrill and Councillor Verhaeghe liable to the Town of Athabasca under the Municipal Government Act, Part 8, Section 249 1(a) and 249 (3); and to disqualify Mayor Morrill and Councillor Verhaeghe from council as per the Municipal Government Act, Part 5, Division 7, Section 174 1(k); and to direct administration to enforce liability as per the Municipal Government Act, Part 8, Section 249 4(a).' ”
He also rescinded his support for the Feb. 16 motion, which directed administration to take any necessary steps to prepare and execute an application to the Court of Queen's Bench for enforcement of disqualification of Morrill and Verhaeghe according to the sections 172, 174, 175, 248 and 249 or anything else that is applicable under Division 7 of the Municipal Government Act.
Councillors Steve Schafer, Shelly Gurba and Evans voted in favour of rescinding the two motions.
Councillors Nichole Adams and Joanne Peckham voted against the motions.
Both Verhaeghe and Morrill excused themselves during the discussion and the vote, citing possible perceived pecuniary interest.
“In light of what's just happened here tonight, I wish to also extend that this matter is now behind us, ” Morrill said. “We will bury the hatchet and try to go forward from here. ”
“I'm going to echo Mayor Morrill's comments, and we can put this behind us and move forward, ” Verhaeghe said. “I don't take things personal, I don't hold grudges, and we've got little over a year left and let's try and make the best of it. ”
Read next week's Athabasca Advocate for more on the story.
