The Town of Arnprior has moved quickly in replacing a member at the Council table in mid-term.
Councillor Billy Denault was elected as the new Member of Provincial Parliament for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke on February 27th, and formally resigned on Monday.
On Tuesday afternoon, representatives convened a Special Council Meeting to decide the course of action on Denault’s replacement.
Options included holding a byelection, naming the person who finished sixth in the 2022 civic vote to replace him (Maureen Campbell), inviting applications from the public to fulfill the balance of the term- or appointing an individual of their choosing.
As it turns out, with Council’s youngest member departing for Queen’s Park, his replacement is the person with the community’s most experience with municipal service, former Arnprior Public Works Director and longtime Councillor Ted Strike, who had not sought re-election in 2022.
Strike will take the oath of office at the next scheduled meeting of Town Council, Monday March 10th.
By Rick Stow