Robert Fisher
Staff Reporter
BARRY’S BAY – Council for the Township of Madawaska Valley will fill a vacant council seat through direct appointment; the same process it used three previous times in 2025.
Council declared the seat held by Ernie Peplinskie vacant following his untimely death in December. Council is required by law to fill a vacant seat if the vacancy occurs more than 90 days before a regularly scheduled election and a by-election cannot be held after March 31 in the year of a regular election.
Coun. Mary Blank, as she had for previous vacancies, voiced her support for seeking applications from people interested in filling the seat. The Township of Bonnechere Valley chose the application process when it had to fill a vacancy in 2025 following a resignation.
Coun. Shelley Maika asked if council could change course at a future meeting if members could not come up with names for a direct appointment. Council must fill the vacancy within 60 days of declaring the seat vacant.
Klatt asked council members to bring possible names to the Feb. 3 meeting.
“Should council not have any names to bring forward at the February 3rd meeting, that council would have to direct the CAO through another resolution,” which option council wishes to pursue.
“I think, in two weeks, if we can’t find someone to appoint,” council will select another option, said Mayor David Shulist.
Klatt said the mayor has received “applications” from candidates from the 2022 election.
“That is good to know,” said Shulist.
Blank suggested asking people to submit applications will save two weeks of time. She also said council has had difficulty finding names to appoint for previous vacancies.
“That’s why I’m saying, again, that I think it would be important. Anybody’s in the community that’s interested, put your name forward now and we’ll look at it. And that’s why I’m saying we’re going to save time.”
Council voted 3-1 to go with direct appointment. Blank was the lone dissenting vote.
Following the vote, Cybulski asked if they could move forward with appointment and accepting applications simultaneously. They cannot.
Klatt will bring a report on the process for direct appointment to the Feb. 3 meeting and councillors will provide names to be voted on.
robert@thevalleygazette.ca
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