‘New beginning’: Murray River rebuilds council after mayor, deputy mayor resign
MURRAY RIVER, P.E.I. — Murray River council is getting again to enterprise after the abrupt departure of the mayor and deputy mayor in mid-Could.
The Rural Municipality of Murray River met June 20 to nominate Coun. Karri Ferguson as interim mayor and Coun. Greg Munn as deputy mayor, in addition to to welcome Sonya Martin as chief administrative officer (CAO).
The interim positions will stay in drive till the Nov. 7 municipal elections this fall.
On June 1, the Japanese Graphic reported mayor Pat Bray and deputy mayor Sandra Edwards resigned their posts mid-May. Edwards cited a fractured council whereas Bray mentioned her departure was as a result of well being causes, mentioned the Graphic story by Josh Lewis.
“We all know as a lot as anybody,” mentioned Ferguson, after the June 20 assembly.
She mentioned council obtained an electronic mail of resignation from every of the ladies. Neither girl attended any subsequent council assembly to debate their determination.
Edwards instructed SaltWire Community on June 16 that she’s having fun with life after stepping down from council.
“I’m considering it’s fairly fantastic and I’ve no additional remark,” she mentioned.
Bray didn’t return a number of telephone calls and voicemails left by SaltWire Community.
At a look
- The Rural Municipality of Murray River council has modified its month-to-month assembly schedule to the third Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
- Workplace hours for the chief administrative officer can be Mondays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- The workplace is situated within the Murray River Leona Giddings Memorial Library constructing.
Present council members
- Interim Mayor Karri Ferguson
- Interim Deputy Mayor Greg Munn
- Coun. Donna Penny
- Coun. Walter Munn
Beginning over
Munn mentioned the June 20 assembly was council’s “new starting”.
In early June, employees from the Division of Municipal Affairs met with the 4 remaining Murray River councillors to find out essentially the most applicable subsequent steps.
“Provided that the councillors can be staying on, they’ll meet the quorum requirement to maintain working,” wrote spokesperson Vicki Tse in an electronic mail to SaltWire Community June 7. “Provincial employees stay obtainable to assist councillors with something they could want.”
The municipality was additionally with no CAO previous to the June 20 assembly as a result of the earlier CAO has retired in late 2021, and the interim posting ended on the finish of Could, mentioned Ferguson.
Martin brings expertise to the function as she can also be the CAO for the agricultural municipalities of Souris West and Japanese Kings.
As soon as the brand new government was in place, the modified June 20 assembly continued with the primary studying of an up to date elections bylaw and discussions round initiatives underway within the village.
The same old committee experiences and monetary statements weren’t on the agenda as a result of the Division of Municipal Affairs nonetheless had possession of some key objects such because the municipality’s laptop computer and banking info.
Martin instructed council she’s going to meet with the division inside per week to retrieve the objects.
Alison Jenkins is a reporter for the SaltWire Community in Prince Edward Island.
