Following the resignation of councillor John Illes, 亚洲天堂 Lake will be required to hold a by-election.

According to the provincial government, the only exception would be if the resignation occurred after Jan. 1 in the year of a general local election. The next general local election will be held in 2018.

鈥淚f we start [the byelection process] right now, I believe it鈥檚 about 80 days, so it [the byelection] would be right before Christmas,鈥� explained Mayor Beach during last week鈥檚 council meeting. 鈥淚f we wait a week or two, it looks like it will be an early January election.鈥�

The village鈥檚 chief administrative officer (CAO), Sheryl Worthing, who usually assumes the role of chief electoral officer, was not present at the council meeting. Given the recent staff shortage, council decided to defer any byelection decisions until the next council meeting.

However, council did make a decision regarding who will sit on the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako鈥檚 (RDBN) board.

Mayor Beach made a motion to appoint himself to the board. The motion was seconded by councillor Susan Schienbein and carried unanimously by council.

鈥淚 really appreciate the support,鈥� said Mayor Beach.

This same request played out differently earlier this year, when council unanymously denied the mayor鈥檚 request to sit on the RDBN board. At that time, Beach argued that, as the mayor, it should鈥檝e been his decision whether to sit on the board. Although councillors can be appointed to the RDBN board, municipalities have often appointed their mayors.

Former councillor Illes had been chosen to represent village on the RDBN board shortly before last year鈥檚 byelection in which Mayor Beach was elected.

Last week councillor Schienbein reminded Beach that Illes also sat on other committees. Council then asked village staff to prepare a report with all the committee appointments that Illes had been a part of for the next council meeting.

Illes resigned effective Sept. 15, 2017. According to the village, he has recently accepted an employment position at the RDBN which required his resignation.

The village鈥檚 CAO, who had been absent for the past few weeks, returned to work last Thursday.

With regard to the director of finance position, the village plans to start interviewing candidates this week.

The job posting for a new director of recreation is out now with a closing date of Oct. 2. Interviews will commence as soon as applications have been reviewed.