Another day another domino for the list of town officials dropping in Sayward.
Councillor Bill Ives is the latest to depart the North Island village, resigning from his position this week, with an effective date of Nov. 20.
A byelection date which was set for Nov. 20 to elect a mayor and councilor to replace the pair who resigned in March, now has three positions vacant.The upcoming bylections will not be interrupted by the resignation as the council will be able to maintain quorum until then.
In an e-mail, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Selina Robinson’s office confirmed the resignation of the Coun. Ives on Sept. 15.
Ministry spokesperson Marielle Tounsi told the VI Free Daily that a resignation is effective from the date specified in the written resignation submitted to the corporate officer or council during a council meeting, so council will be able to maintain quorum until the by-election is held.
Ives told the Mirror that he decided to resign and retire as he was “tired of the battle” and the accusations that were being flung at him on social media and by fellow council members.
Sayward’s council has been at the helm of controversy since mayor John MacDonald and Coun. Joyce Ellis resigned in March 2020. Since then, there have been two acting mayors. Ives was briefly the acting mayor before he was replaced by Kirschner in June.
Tounsi also said that ministry staff have been actively working with and supporting the Village of Sayward including assisting with meetings, and tax notices, etc. since the spring, particularly throughout the pandemic, until a byelection could safely be held.
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