If you’re a resident of Lake of Bays and you’ve been mulling over the idea of joining your local government, you may not have to wait long.
Council is expected to officially declare the seat of former Sinclair Councillor Virginia (Ginny) Burgess as vacant at its May 17 meeting. Council will also have to decide how to fill the position. Three options will likely be presented. The first, and costliest, would be to hold a by-election; the second option could be to offer the seat to the candidate who ran against Burgess in the 2014 municipal election; the third option, and the one favoured by the mayor, would be to ask those interested to submit their names, and a decision would then be made through a Council vote.
Lake of Bays Mayor Bob Young is not keen on running an election, saying it could cost up to $20,000 to fill that seat. He’s more amenable to the idea that those interested submit their names. “To me that’s a fair way of approaching it and under the rules anybody in the township can put in their application to assume the seat. We would obviously prefer it to be someone from the Sinclair (area).”
Young said there have already been some inquiries of interest. “So I think it will be subscribed by a number of people, at least I hope so because we still have a little over half the term left,” he said.
He lamented the loss of Burgess on Council. “The loss of her husband was a hell of a blow to her. It came out of the blue, no warning. Three months and he’s dead. So Ginny basically said ‘my life changed.’ And I fully understand.”
He said she was an incredible contribution to Council. “She knows her constituency. I think she’s one of the few councillors who actually has an advisory group she meets with. She was very diligent in the work she did.”
Deputy Mayor Nancy Tapley also said she’s sorry to see Councillor Burgess step down.
I adore her. She brought so much class to the Council table. It was an honour and privilege to sit at the table with her. She was always calm and rational and fair and brought a lot of class to the table and dressed better than I did too.
Deputy Mayor Nancy Tapley
Burgess said resigning from Council was a tough decision to make. “My family responsibilities have changed and increased. They require more of my time and attention.”
She graciously offered anyone filling the position her guidance. “Nine and a half years as Councillor, I’ve really enjoyed it. It was a wonderful learning experience and an opportunity to serve.”
She said she feels confident that someone in the area will step forward for the position. Her advice to the new Councillor: “Listen to the residents and do your best.”
Ginny’s husband David died about six months ago. “It’s been a big adjustment so I need to spend more time with the family and pursue some other things… I’ve got a lot on my plate right now,” she said, adding that they were married for 52 years. “Of course I got married at 10,” she managed to quip.
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