Norwich to hold byelection to replace councilor who quit over flag flap

The Township of Norwich will hold a byelection to replace a councilor who quit after politicians passed a controversial bylaw banning all almost all non-government flags from being flown on civic property.

Council unanimously endorsed a staff recommendation on Tuesday to fill the vacancy to form Ward 2 Coun. Alisha Stubbs by holding a byelection. The other option to fill the position was to supplement someone willing to accept.

“Since council members are in the early stages of their four-year term and in consideration of the length of time remaining in this term, staff are recommending that a by-election be held,” staff wrote in a report to politicians this week.

A bylaw calling for a byelection must be enacted within 60 days of declaring the seat vacant, which council did Tuesday. Norwich, a township of 11,000, would be required to set a nomination day at least 30 days and at most 60 days after the bylaw passes. Voting day would need to be held 45 days after that.

Stubbs, whose ward takes in the village of Norwich, was elected last fall, knocking off candidates William Van Lagen by 367 votes and Michael Legge by 624 votes.

She resigned at the May 23 meeting over what she described as “blatant discrimination” following council’s 3-2 vote to restrict flag-flying on municipal turf to government banners and those of the local junior and minor hockey teams, effectively banning Pride flags. Politicians also had rejected a separate push by Stubbs to declare June as Pride month.

In her formal letter of resignation, Stubbs thanked staff and said she hopes her former colleagues can “learn more, do better and stop using bigotry as the foundation to their decisions.”

“People matter,” she said. “Neutrality and censorship are harmful.”

Byelections are run like any election and may cost the municipality up to $15,000, with additional costs for advertising, staff told politicians this week.

Responding to a question from Coun. Shawn Gear, staff suggested in-person voting rather than mail-in ballots.

For the third meeting in a row, a barrage of letters appeared on this week’s council agenda, most of them urging politicians to reconsider the bylaw that restricts flag-flying on township property to government and hockey team flags. Few expressed support for the ban.

From chalking massive rainbow crosswalks to decorating their laws with Pride flags, community members have found ways during the past week to mark Pride month and display support for the LGBTQ community. Others are going out of their way to make clear their opposition to the bylaw.

One woman, Marta McDonald, has protested topless outside the Netherlands Reformed Congregation for the last two Sundays. Like some advocates and critics, McDonald has said the local church has an outsized influence in the community’s politics and believes the push to rescind the bylaw must come from its members. Standing across from the church property, she held a sign that states: “The shirt goes on when our flag goes up.”

On Tuesday, one person in a wheelchair was outside flying the Progress Pride flag throughout the council meeting, going back and forth outside the council chamber windows.

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