With its fourth new mayor in three months, Sayward created history during the pandemic.
Coun. Norm Kirschner was appointed as the new acting mayor of the Vancouver Island village on June 9, taking over from Coun. Bill Ives who was appointed the acting mayor towards the end of April.
READ MORE: Sayward appoints new acting mayor amidst COVID-19
Ives was voted acting mayor by the village council after conferring with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing after Coun. Joyce Ellis resigned from the same position on March 18, leaving the village with a governance vacuum during the pandemic.
Ellis resigned just after a week of serving as interim mayor.
Ellis took over after the longest-serving mayor of Sayward, John MacDonald, resigned on March 13, citing personal circumstances. Following Ellis and MacDonald’s resignations, the chief administrative officer, Lisa Clark also quit.
READ MORE: Subsequent mayors’ resignations leaves Island village with a governance vacuum
The current acting mayor, Kirschner, declined to comment on what led to Ives’ departure as acting mayor.
Kirschner will be acting mayor of Sayward until a new mayor can be elected.
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