Following the resignation of South Bruce Peninsula of Mayor Garry Michi, Deputy Mayor Jay Kirkland was appointed interim Mayor at the Council meeting on September 19th.
Former Mayor Michi resigned on August 29th after he made disparaging comments about the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation when it came to Federal spending for a water treatment plant.
A bylaw is expected to come forward at an upcoming meeting to confirm Kirkland as Mayor and, once passed, he will be sworn in.
Following Kirkland’s swearing in, the question will be, who will then fill the position of Deputy Mayor. The apparent next in line is Gwen Gilbert, who came in second in the last election for Deputy Mayor.
According to sources, many residents are concerned that a By-election was not democratically held to determine the mayoral position, what will take place regarding the deputy mayor position and, finally, if a vacancy is left at the Council table for a councillor.
Chief administrative officer (CAO) Bill Jones will be bringing a report to council with options for the deputy-mayor’s position.
In the last election, voter turn-out was low in South Bruce Peninsula as only 5,594 (42.5%) of 13,160 electors who were eligible voted in this ballot.
