The City of Armstrong held its first official meeting since the death of longtime councillor Ron (Sully) O’Sullivan, 79, on May 27.
O’Sullivan’s spot at the council table Tuesday was adorned with flowers and cards of condolence.
“Our community lost a great ambassador,” said Mayor Chris Pieper at the outset of the meeting. “Sully jumped right into community service when he only knew two people in town. The love shown for Sully was evident at the curling rink (site of O’Sullivan’s celebration of life).”
Added Coun. Paul Britton: “It was amazing to see all of the people at his funeral. He was a great guy.”
Council observed a minute of silence in O’Sullivan’s memory.
Pieper later announced that a byelection to fill O’Sullivan’s seat would be held in the fall.
“The regulations will be exactly the same as if there was a full-blown election,” said Pieper. “We have to go through the advertising and name a returning officer.”
Pieper expects to name the returning officer Sept. 12, and the city will then have 80 days to have the election.
“It looks like we’ll have an election in October or November,” said Pieper, who also adjusted the city’s committee structures in light of O’Sullivan’s death.
O’Sullivan was on the city’s finance and administration and public works committees. His spot has been taken by Coun. Linda Werner (finance) and Coun. Paul Britton (public works).
Coun. Lance McGregor takes O’Sullivan’s spot on the age-friendly and Okanagan Regional Library Board committees, and Werner will fill in as an alternate on parks and recreation.
McGregor also takes O’Sullivan’s role as a liaison appointment to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club and Britton replaces O’Sullivan as liaison for seniors housing.
“This will go until December when we’ll review the committee structure, and we’ll have one more councillor then,” said Pieper.
In the last municipal election in 2014, 11 people ran for the six council seats in Armstrong.