Critics of Northern Arm's town council say they've gathered almost 200 signatures on a petition to dissolve the governing body — but the mayor says organizers are pushing a personal agenda.

The petition was organized by a committee of concerned citizens, made up in part by former town councillors, including Fred Butler and Gerald Sceviour, who say the signatures account for a clear majority of eligible voters in the town of 426.

"That told us that the community totally believes that this council is dysfunctional," Butler said. "Ninety-two per cent of the 200 households that we contacted here signed."

They never knocked on this door. - Michael Tremblett

But Mayor Michael Tremblett says he won't act on the petition because he hasn't seen it, and says he doesn't know whether he can trust it was gathered fairly.

"We have not seen it. We don't know who those 180 people were, we don't know if they signed it or not, if they knocked on the doors or not," he said. "They never knocked on this door."

Butler's is signature on the petition, dated Feb. 19, to dissolve town council. (Garrett Barry/CBC)

He cast doubts on whether residents in the town knew what they were signing — as he claims his council has "not had one complaint from a member of this community at that town hall," he said. "Not one."

"If I really believed that the people of this community didn't [want me], I wouldn't — no, I'd say I'd probably resign," he said. "But I don't believe that for a minute. Because I talked to the people of this community. and they don't tell me they want me to resign, they come up and they congratulate me. They say they're proud of me."

Heated conflicts and 'troublemakers'

The fight between both sides stretches back almost a year. It's included eight resignations from the town council, and accusations of conflict-of-interest violations.

If I've done something wrong, and the people in this town can show me what I did wrong, then they can have Municipal Affairs remove me. - Michael Tremblett

Butler quit council in September, along with five other councillors, and left only Tremblett in his seat. He said it was because of a toxic atmosphere in council, and blames Tremblett for creating it.

Sceviour, who filled a seat in a byelection late last year but subsequently quit in March, said his time on council was a disaster.

Tremblett puts on the ceremonial chain of office before a council meeting in Northern Arm on Tuesday night. Tremblett says he will not resign his post. (Garrett Barry/CBC)

"To be called a liar, and cheat, a crook and everything else in the world, to be degraded … I didn't sign up for that," he said. "At the end of the day you can sit down and have a coffee. But [you cannot] with him."

Tremblett flatly denies he had anything to do with the eight resignations. Instead, he said, Sceviour was the one who turned negative, started accusations and "went rebellious."

The mayor calls the concerned citizens group "troublemakers," says they're disrupting meetings and says the group is simply a vehicle for the councillors who resigned last year to complain. And he says the supporters they've gathered in town are being "misled."

Provincial government considering steps

The Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment confirmed to CBC News it received the petition, which was dated Feb. 19, and is considering its next steps.

Minister Graham Letto visited the community on March 8.

The department said the provincial government has the power to step in and direct a town council to take steps, or dissolve the town council, if an inspector finds "the affairs of a municipal authority are managed in an irregular, improper or improvident manner."

Tremblett points during an interview with CBC News in his home in Northern Arm. (Garrett Barry/CBC)

"The department is considering whether a formal inspection will be pursued, and will advise the town council of its decision in the near future," a spokesperson wrote in an email.

Butler and Sceviour said provincial government intervention is the only way they can see the conflict resolved; Tremblett says he has no plans to resign.

Former councillor Butler sits in the public area of Northern Arm's council chambers while new councillors huddle on the right. (Garrett Barry/CBC)

"Whenever I take an oath to do something, I make a commitment and do something, I see it through," he said. "When I signed on for this town council. I said I would serve for four years. I will serve for four years."

"If I've done something wrong, and the people in this town can show me what I did wrong, then they can have Municipal Affairs remove me. But I have not done anything wrong."

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