A last-minute change of rules has left St. George?s town crier E. Michael Jones with a tough decision to make today.

Mr. Jones is planning to stand for mayor of the Old Town, but he will have to give up his $35,000 a year post of town crier if he is elected.

For the Corporation of St. George?s passed the policy last week after members felt it was inappropriate to have one person holding both jobs because the mayor and town crier are often called to attend the same events.

Now Mr. Jones will need to decide whether he will resign his town crier?s job to press ahead with his bid to become mayor.

So far, Mr. Jones, former Alderman Ross Smith and Alderman Mariea Caisey have announced they will run for mayor in the election ? and nominations close today.

Mayor Henry Hayward confirmed the rule change to yesterday.

?With the possibility that Michael Jones might end up as mayor, it was felt strongly by the Corporation that these two positions do not go well together and the person who is town crier should not be mayor, and vice-versa,? he said.

?I have discussed it with Mr. Jones and he is quite aware of the policy and he has a decision to make, and he is aware if it.

?There are several towns in Canada and the UK that have the mayor as the town crier, but we feel St. George?s has such significance and activities that go on on a weekly basis here involving the town crier, and on many occasions the mayor has to be present as well.?

When asked if the new Corporation could overturn the rule after the elections next month to allow Mr. Jones to hold both posts, Mr. Hayward said: ?That would be a decision for the new Corporation.

?If Mr. Jones goes down and puts in his nomination for mayor and is successful then he as new mayor has a policy decision to adhere to.

?At that point, if the new Corporation support him as being mayor and town crier, that?s their decision. But the majority of the past Corporation are running for the new Corporation so if they get in they will continue that policy.

?He has held the position of town crier for five or six years and has been active in the town in that position and in some sense it would be a shame that he would give it up.?

When asked if he thought it likely Mr. Jones would give up the post of mayor if elected, Mr. Hayward said: ?It is a possibility, but having gone into the election like that, it would be unlikely he would then stand down as mayor.?

was unable to speak to Mr. Jones yesterday.