Staff with the City of Belleville are putting forward a list of options to fill the vacant Ward 1 council seat at council’s meeting on Monday.
The seat was declared vacant after former councillor Chris Malette was elected as the MP for Bay of Quinte.
On Monday, council will be presented with two options, one will be to call a by-election with the other appointing a new councillor.
A by-election would cost approximately $200,000 according to city staff.
These costs include retaining the internet- and telephone-voting provider and Canada Post to mail voter information letters.
If council goes forward with the appointment process, they can choose from selecting the second-highest-place Ward 1 councillor candidate from the 2022 municipal election, make a call for applications for the role, or make a direct appointment.
There are no costs associated with the appointment process.
Staff are recommending city council appoint the second-highest-place Ward 1 councillor candidate who did not win in the 2022 municipal election to fill the vacant council seat.
In the previous council vacancy, Councillor Margaret Seu filled the role after current MPP Tyler Allsopp won a by-election in the Bay of Quinte riding.
Seu was appointed to the role after being the highest-place Ward 1 councillor candidate in the 2022 municipal election.
The second-highest-place candidate was former councillor Kelly McCaw.
McCaw tells Quinte News that she will accept the council seat if asked.
