Some members of Brock Township council are having second thoughts about a mayoral by-election given the impending departure of the municipal clerk.

A special meeting has been scheduled on Monday (March 8) specifically for council to discuss a motion to reconsider the resolution unanimously passed on Feb. 22 that called for a by-election over appointment.

The reconsideration motion has been brought forward by Ward 4 Councillor Cria Pettingill and Ward 2 Councillor Claire Doble.

In interviews Friday, both councillors said that hosting a by-election would be extremely difficult given the fact that Clerk Becky Jamieson has announced that she’ll be leaving for a position in Scugog at the end of the month.

“Running a by-election now, with the absence of our clerk, would be very stressful on staff and impede a lot of the projects we have planned. It would also be more costly,” Coun. Pettingill said.

“The staffing change will directly impact our ability to effectively run a by-election,” Coun. Doble added.

The motion requires support from at least two-thirds of council members (four of six) to proceed.

“I support the reconsideration motion because I believe it would be impossible for the township to hold a by-election at this time because the Clerk Becky Jamieson is leaving Brock for a new career opportunity in Scugog,” said Ward 5 Councillor Lynn Campbell.

“The clerk is the main staff member responsible for running a by-election.”

Regional Councillor Ted Smith has previously indicated that he was planning to run in the by-election, while Ward 1 Councillor Mike Jubb is also considering it.