About Council

The municipality of Five Rivers elects seven people to Council: one Mayor and six Councillors. One of the six Councillors is elected by Council to serve as Deputy Mayor.

Broadly speaking, each Council Member is responsible to represent the interests of all residents in Five Rivers. That said, four of the Councilors are elected by voters in their respective wards, while the other three are elected on an at-large basis (including the mayor). The four members elected by voters in their wards are responsible to represent the interests of the people in their wards but must keep in mind the best interests of the community as a whole.

Under the Local Governance Act of New Brunswick, the Council of every municipality is responsible to:

• Make decisions for the good of the whole community
• Be a voice for the community/reflecting and considering views
• Ensure Local Government services are being delivered
• Review and enact by-laws
• Approve policies and procedures as recommended by the administration
• Authorize the signing of agreements and contracts (Mayor & Clerk)
• Set annual property tax rates & user fees
• Prepare and submit annual budgets (operating and capital) to the province
• Set strategic direction & priorities
• Provide direction to Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk (not staff)

Under the Local Governance Act of New Brunswick, the Mayor has the following duties:

• Provides leadership to the local government and to Council
• Presides over and manages procedures for all meetings of the Local Government
• Spokesperson for Council, ceremonial role
• Ensures Council’s directions are implemented by CAO
• Key signing authority with Clerk (contracts, agreements, cheques)
• Other duties as approved by Council or as found in Procedural by-law

Under the Local Governance Act of New Brunswick, the Deputy Mayor acts in the place of the mayor when they are absent or unable to act. In so doing, the Deputy Mayor has all the duties and powers of the mayor when acting in the role.

Under the Local Governance Act of New Brunswick, each member of Council has the following duties:

• Considers the welfare and interests of the whole community
• Brings community matters to Council’s attention
• Evaluates policies, programs, by-laws as recommended by administration
• Attends all Council meetings
• Attends all Council committee meetings and boards to which they have been appointed
• Participates in the annual budget process
• All other duties as approved by Council by resolution or in procedural by-law

No. All decisions of Council require a majority vote. The mayor has no special powers to overrule a majority vote.

Council can only make decisions in a regular or special meeting of Council that has quorum. To establish quorum, a majority of the full number of Council members must be present. For example, if full Council has six members, four council members must be present for quorum. If full Council has five members, three must be present (where three is the minimum). In a meeting with quorum, a member of Council must put a motion forward to the Council. After debating the motion, a majority must vote to pass the motion (for example, four of six or three of five). Once passed, the motion becomes a resolution of Council, that is, a final decision of Council.

Under Section 8 of the Local Governance Act of New Brunswick, Council members are obliged to declare a conflict of interest that they have regarding any matter before Council. For example, a member would be in conflict if asked to approve a grant for a business owned and operated by their spouse or child. To declare the conflict, the member must announce that they have a conflict by citing the related agenda item during the Council meeting. Then, when that issue comes before Council, the member in conflict must leave the meeting, refraining from both discussing and voting on the matter. A member who is aware of a conflict is expected complete a conflict-of-interest form to describe and document the conflict. Any resident of Five Rivers who sees a conflict of interest with a member can report that member’s conflict to the province. If the province finds the accused member to be in conflict, the member may be required to pay a fine and/or step down from Council.

Under the Local Governance Act of New Brunswick, Council may discuss certain issues in “closed” or private sessions of Council. For example, matters such as municipal land sales that may result in financial loss or gain to the municipality can be addressed in a closed session of Council. In addition, certain issues related to labor and legal matters can also be addressed in a closed session. That said, any matter that is not specifically identified in the Local Governance Act as eligible for closed session must be discussed in a public meeting of Council.

Yes, all Council members receive a salary, also called an honorarium. The mayor receives $26,810 each year. The Deputy Mayor receives $13,455. The other five members of Council each receive $10,764.