East Garafraxa Mayor Allen Taylor has abandoned all hope of having a second representative of his township at the Dufferin county council table.

In a phone interview Wednesday, he said there wasn't "any chance" it would get the required "triple majority" approval.

The mayor had circulated all municipalities in the county seeking their support for a motion that would have the effect of adding the deputy mayors of his township and of East Luther Grand Valley as county representatives without changing the composition of the weighted votes.

Those townships, along with Amaranth, Melancthon and Mulmur, have two votes each. But East Garafraxa and ELGV have just one representative, each with two votes, whereas the other municipalities all have two representatives each.

Mayor Taylor said most municipalities had responded to his request for support, but all responses except possibly Orangeville's had been negative. Melancthon had originally supported Mayor Taylor, but rescinded its motion of support at its May 7 meeting.

To achieve a triple majority, a motion must have not only the majority of votes at county council but approval of a majority of municipalities, and those (five of the eight) must represent at least half the county's eligible voters.

Orangeville has better than half the electors. And it has 13 of 30 votes at the county table. Therefore, its support is critical to any triple majority vote.

With Orangeville's support, approval of a motion by county council is almost assured. But Orangeville, despite its population, wouldn't hold much sway in a triple majority unless it has the support of at least four of the other seven municipalities. Based on responses to Mayor Taylor, this would appear unlikely.

Beyond representation by the two townships, Orangeville is seeking direct election of the warden. This would also require a triple majority vote.

This issue is to be discussed in a public meeting tonight, but isn't likely to come to a vote until at least next month.

Warden Gordon Montgomery said Wednesday he wouldn't expect a motion to be brought following the public meeting tonight.

"I just want to hear (the discussion)," he said. "I think it's an important decision to make," too important to make without a lot of consideration.

But there could be surprises. He said that is anyone were to bring a motion with a seconder there would have to be a discussion and a vote.

He added that he couldn't say "conclusively" what is likely to happen tonight.