It appears the vacant Belleville council seat is not going to drop out of the news anytime soon.
Councillor Garnet Thompson says he will be bringing a Notice of Motion to the next meeting, reintroducing the appointment of Tyler Allsopp.
Before Christmas, a 4-4 motion defeated Allsopp getting the position, with some on council wanting another woman to take the late Pat Culhane’s spot.
Thompson says the motion needs support from six of the eight in council.
“This person next in line deserves that opportunity to take the seat. For whatever reason they think they need to go to a different system, that is up to them. Hopefully they will have some reconsideration.”
Councillor Kelly McCaw says some of those who have applied to take Culhane’s seat have been bullied, threatened, and harassed, but Thompson does not believe that is the case.
“Not that I have heard anyways. I do not know where that would be coming from. Whether somebody’s true witness to that. I think the people feel the democratic way is to put somebody that was next in line.”
Voting for the appointment of Allsopp were councillors Malette, Williams, Thompson, and Carr, with Mayor Panciuk and councillors McCaw, Kelly, and Sandison voting against.
Meanwhile a petition is being circulated in support of Allsopp to fill that position, urging council to make that decision.
