St. John's better served if mayor leaves early: councillors

Mayor Andy Wells should resign soon to clear the way for a St. John's byelection, several councillors say.

Wells, appointed last week as the full-time chief executive officer of Newfoundland and Labrador's Public Utilities Board, said he may stay on as mayor to save taxpayers the expense of a byelection.

Wells, however, said he would be guided by what fellow councillors and public opinion have to say.

"I've been on council for six and a half years, and Andy Wells has never asked my opinion or advice on anything, so it's somewhat ironic," said Coun. Art Puddister, who believes Wells should announce a resignation within days, to become effective with the PUB appointment on March 1.

"I don't think as a council that we have a right to play with the system because there's a cost figure attached," Puddister said.

"I think we have to go by the rules and regulations."

Under the City of St. John's Act, a byelection must be called if the mayor resigns more than a year before the next scheduled election. With the next municipal vote scheduled for September 2009, that means a byelection will be necessary if Wells resigns before this September.

Wells said a byelection would cost at least $450,000, and that he is willing to do both jobs — even though the mayor's position is full time — to save money.

Coun. Tom Hann says it's completely up to the mayor when he leaves, but the cost of a byelection is a factor.

"We've just come through a very heavy-duty budget process, and $400,000 from where we're sitting today is a lot of money, so there has to be some consideration given to that," he said.

But Coun. Keith Coombs said the budget should not be the only factor.

"If I was in his position I'd probably step down. I'd make my decision as the mayor, if I were there, and move on," Coombs said.

But Deputy Mayor Dennis O'Keefe, who would automatically become mayor if Wells were to stay on until the fall, said no one but Wells should ultimately decide.

"I don't know how the people of St. John's can decide for him," O'Keefe said.

"I think the mayor has to decide on his own now … where his future lies, and I think his future lies with the PUB."

Coun. Shannie Duff, a frequent opponent of Wells on council, said she will stay on the sidelines for this debate.

"Andy could stay on until the end of his term if he so desires, so he's got to make a decision on what he feels in his … heart," she said.

Randy Simms, the mayor of neighbouring Mount Pearl, said Wells ought to stay on, for the sake of saving some dollars.

"In municipal politics, it always comes down to money," Simms said.

But Coun. Gerry Colbert said democracy should take precedence over cost savings.

"Who are we at city council, some kind of military junta?" Colbert said.

Wells, who has been mayor since 1997, has been a member of council since 1977.

He was a full-time member of the PUB for almost five years until the Clyde Wells government introduced legislation that effectively abolished his consumer representative position on the regulating authority.

Premier Danny Williams announced Wells's appointment on Thursday.

Municipal Affairs Minister Dave Denine said there is nothing preventing Wells from holding both jobs.

"The mayor of St. John's has the right if he wishes, or if she wishes, to hold down those two jobs. There's nothing in the legislation that I have the authority to say one way or another," Denine said.