Town Municipal Governance
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2025 is a Municipal Election Year in Clarenville
On October 2 of this year, Municipal elections will be held in municipalities across our Province. This includes the Town of Clarenville. Municipal government is the most relevant, but often least understood, of each level of government. I designed this page to encourage citizens to consider offering themselves for election and to give citizens a better understanding of what is involved in the operation of our municipality.
Being a Councillor
The role of a Councillor is an important one because the councillor represents all of the citizens of his or her town. Councillors do not directly run the Town; that is the job of the paid staff, rather municipal councillors take on the responsibility to provide town staff with a balance in decision-making, sound financial oversight, and effective communications, to maintain relations with other levels of government and to comply with relevant legislation. It is a rewarding, albeit challenging job, that people considering council must take seriously.
Important Dates for Clarenville's 2025 Municipal Election
September 4 - Candidate Nomination Day - Located at the Town Office
September 20 & 27 Advanced Polling Dates - - Located at the Town Office
October 2 -- Election Day - Locations TBA
Municipal Elections
Municipal elections occur every four years on a date set by the provincial government for all municipalities in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Municipal Election determines your municipal governance for the next four years. Casting your ballot allows you to elect officials who will decide on your behalf.
The current Clarenville Town Council was elected on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.
About Clarenville's Town Council and the Municipality of Clarenville
The Town of Clarenville has seven (7) council positions. There is a separate vote for the Mayor's position and the six Councillor positions. The position of Deputy Mayor is a decision of the Council. Normally, the candidate who receives the highest number of votes in the councillor election is nominated as Deputy Mayor.
Mayor
Six councillors including the Deputy Mayor
The following legislation is used to govern all aspects of the Municipality of Clarenville:
Council Operations
Once elected and sworn in, Clarenville's Council is tasked with making the decisions on courses of action that are then delegated to the Town's professional managers and staff to complete.
Committees of Council
Traditionally, the Mayor establishes standing committees of Council that focus on key town operations including:
Public Works and Planning
Finance and Administration
Economic Development
Recreation
Human Resources
These committees include councillors and staff and normally meet bi-weekly (on off-council meeting weeks). The committees assess issues with consideration of staff advice. The Committee then makes recommendations for the Council.
Clarenville's Council
Clarenville's Council normally meets as a whole for the Council's biweekly public meeting. That meeting follows a preset agenda that includes a review/acceptance of the previous minutes, other updates and then reports and recommendations from standing and ad-hoc meetings of Council Committees.
Workload and Remuneration
Being an effective councillor demands your time and talent. Each Councillor needs to make himself/herself aware of all aspects of each of the many municipal issues as they arise, know (or research) the relevant legislation, and make decisions that will affect people's lives. It's challenging, but very rewarding and a learning experience like none other.
In Clarenville, councillors receive a stipend, a percentage of the town's annual budget. It ranges between $9,000 and $11,000 annually.
Clarenville Council Documents
Considerations for Would-Be Councillors
The role of the Town Council is to represent the people of Clarenville by making decisions that benefit the greater good of residents. By doing this, our town evolves as a better place to live, work and visit.
Consider the following:
Leadership: You will work closely with residents, business owners, committees and boards. A strong leader is a team player.
Innovative: You are able to understand the operations of the Town and, when needed, present new, improved and fiscally responsible ways of doing things.
Visionary: You can see the potential the Town holds to become a sought after location to live, do business, and visit.
Business: Clarenville as a municipality is like a business. Knowledge of balancing a 12+ million-dollar budget is necessary.
Honesty and Transparency: The Town provides access to information and values openness with the public.
Dedicated: This will not be a 9-5 job. You will be accountable to the organization and the constituents.
Those interested in pursuing election are encouraged to review legislation which governs all aspects of the Clarenville's Municipal Election.
To seek election for a position on the council, you must be:
18 years of age at the time of nomination
A Canadian citizen
Ordinarily, a resident in the city for 30 days immediately preceding the nomination period
You cannot be indebted to the Town of Clarenville for arrears of taxes or other charges payable to the Town, otherwise disqualified under the Municipal Elections Act.
The next general election will be held on October 2, 2025.
Councillor Handbook
With special thanks to the City of St. John's, the Province of NL and the Town of Clarenville for their assistance in putting this page together. Please note that the information contained on this page is for reference only - official information is available directly from the Town of Clarenville.