Province appoints Ritchot administrator after bullying flap
Manitoba taps Roger Bouvier, a retired municipal services officer, to take over beleaguered RM
After the mayor and two council members stepped down in protest of alleged bullying and belligerent behaviour, the province has stepped in and appointed an unelected administrator to oversee the Rural Municipality of Ritchot.
The Manitoba government appointed Roger Bouvier Wednesday.
He is a retired municipal services officer with decades of experience including as the former chief administrative officer in La Broquerie, Man.
Bouvier will oversee the day-to-day business of Ritchot and respond to any emergencies that may arise before a new council can be elected, the province said in a release.
Ritchot Mayor Jackie Hunt, Coun. Jeannot Robert and Coun. Ron Mamchuk all resigned April 28. Hunt released a statement suggesting interpersonal problems had made it impossible to govern.
Hunt, who had held a council seat since 2014, told CBC days after her resignation that name calling and belligerent behaviour had become the norm on council, even after mediation attempts.
The province said the action to appoint Bouvier was triggered after council members and the chief administrative officer for Ritchot resigned.
The Municipal Act gives Manitoba the authority to appoint an administrator when members of a municipal council are fewer than required for quorum or if a council resigns.
The first act under the new administrator will be to re-hire the municipality's former CAO, Mitch Duval, the province said, to maintain "continuity of administration."
The next action will be to call a byelection as soon as "reasonably possible" to elect a new council for Ritchot and ensure decision-making powers are transferred to elected officials.
Ritchot is located about 20 kilometres south of Winnipeg.