Bancroft Council has started the process of looking into how it will replace a vacant seat at its table.
This comes after Mayor Bernice Jenkins has announced her resignation effective on November 30th. CAO Hazel Lambe says council has the choice to appoint someone to the empty seat, or to hold a by-election.
If a current councillor is appointed the role of mayor, a council seat will sit vacant and need to be filled. This would also require either a council appointment of a by-election. Lambe says holding a by-election would be expensive.
However, council can only discuss how it would like to proceed at this time, and cannot make a decision until after the Mayor Bernice Jenkin’s resignation takes effect on November 30th. Council does have to appoint a new mayor or councillor within 60 days of the resignation.