After a year without, Norman Wells is getting a town council

A year after the territorial government dissolved town council in Norman Wells, N.W.T., the community is readyto bring it back,and a territorial official who briefly oversaw the town says her team has worked to set it upfor success.

Voters in the community of nearly 800 peopleareheading to the polls Monday to choose a new mayor andcouncil. Voting starts at 10 a.m. at the town office.

• Here's what you need to know for election day in the N.W.T.

In 2017, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) appointed an administrator to run the town's affairs, after a report found perceived conflicts of interest and a failure from council to consistently follow rules around proper meeting procedures.

"Administration's not something we like to do," said Eleanor Young, thedeputy minister withMACAwho briefly served as the town's interim administrator last year.

"Hopefully the effect we've been able to have is to kind of hit a reset button."

Changes made to town bylaws

Young, who oversaw the town before Allen Stanzell took on the role, said Stanzell has since made changes to the council's procedures bylaw. He's also been asked to work on bylaws about procurement, employment and conflicts of interest, to make them more clear for the incoming council.

Stanzellsaid he was received well by the town.

Interim town manager Darren Flynn said those changes are being reviewed by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and will be put to the new council for their approval after they are elected.

"There were some people skeptical of the situation but I think just dealing with less people, it simplified some of the decision-making processes and it may have even simplified the interaction with the public," Flynnsaid.

The N.W.T. government is planning training for the newly-elected council, about a month after they start the job, to help them understand their responsibilities.

Flynn says he'll also be doing the first of two orientation sessions with council next week, and the second the following week, before councillors and the mayor are even sworn in.

Young said the previous council didn't invite the territorial government to train them until about a year into their term.

As a result, Young said, "I don't think our training was probably as effective."

New senior administrative officer on the way

Along with council's failure to follow bylaws, there were issues between council and the town's senior administrative officer, Catherine Mallon.

Three workers said that, under Mallon, work became so stressful they went on medical leave. At the time, one worker also accused Mallon of "relentless harassment" and sued the town for wrongful termination. The town responded with a countersuit.

• Former employee sues Town of Norman Wells, N.W.T., for $372K

• Former Norman Wells employees claim wrongful termination, 'toxic' work environment

"She's [Mallon] effectively left the community," Young said.

Mallon's contract was set to end in November, but she took leave in September and has been replaced byFlynnuntil the new council can hire someone.

"It was felt that, given the dynamic of the previous council, a changed face would be good for the new council to start working with," Young said. "We're trying to pave the way for that so the new council will be able to choose someone that they want to work with."

Norman Wells isn't alone in being put under administration.

In 2014, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs put Fort McPherson under administration until 2016, to fix the hamlet's ballooning debt.

• Ex-mayor of Fort McPherson on gov't takeover: 'It's ridiculous'

In 2007, N.W.T. communities began receiving additional responsibilities for their own infrastructure under a new deal between the territorial and community governments. That's been a big adjustment for leaders in small communities, Young said.