Three members on Ritchot’s municipal council resign abruptly, no official reasons cited at press time. Former mayor Jackie Hunt contends bullying was a factor in her decision.
On Monday, May 1, three members of the RM of Ritchot’s council abruptly resigned, including the mayor. Mayor Jackie Hunt, Councillor Jeannot Robert, and Councillor Ron Mamchuk all vacated their council seats.
“As a result, the RM of Richot does not have quorum of Council, as per Section 135(3) of the Municipal Act,” reads a statement from Mitch Duval, Ritchot CAO. “The CAO has advised the Province of Manitoba of these events and is awaiting further directions.”
Section 135 of the Municipal Act states that the quorum of a council is “a majority of the number of members comprising the council, or if a position is vacant, a majority of the remaining members of the council… [but] the minimum number for a quorum of a council is three.”
Since the municipality currently has just two elected councillors, Ernie Dumain (Ward 1) and Corinne Webb (Ward 4), council is unable to sit. Due to the lack of quorum, the regularly scheduled May 2 council meeting had to be cancelled.
The Municipal Act allows for the provincial government to appoint an administrator to ensure that the municipality continues to handle its day-to-day affairs without any interruption to services. Sources indicate that the province is already in the process of appointing an administrator, but that’s only a short-term fix. A spokesperson for the municipality has said that an emergency by-election will be called at the earliest opportunity so that the three vacancies can be filled.
No further comments were made available by the municipality at press time. However, former mayor Jackie Hunt has issued a public statement on the matter.
“Our job as members of the RM of Ritchot Council was to work together for the betterment of the Municipality. To make decisions that were in the best interest of our residents today and for years to come,” Hunt wrote. “When a Council cannot function as a group, and when mediation does not work, and when name calling and belligerent behaviour become the norm, it is time to re-evaluate your spot at the table.”
Although making no specific allegations, Hunt’s statement alleges that other elected officials may have engaged in “behaviour that would not be tolerated in any other work environment.”
“I gave up my seat so that it might start a conversation at the Municipal and Provincial levels of government about how to better protect the residents that want to serve our communities,” the statement continues. “If I stayed and did nothing, then I became complicit and accepting of the behaviour. We are trying to encourage people to run for public office, and we need to ensure they are protected from bullying and inappropriate behaviour while serving their communities… I am now a private citizen and this will be my only statement on this matter. I plan to take time to regroup and focus on my family and charitable work.”
Hunt concluded by thanking Jeannot Robert and Ron Mamchuk, the other two councillors who resigned Monday, as well as CAO Mitch Duval and the rest of the municipality’s staff.
Additional details will be reported on The Citizen’s website as the story develops.
