SUNDRIDGE, Ont. — The Village of Sundridge has a new councillor following the sudden resignation of Jim MacLachlan and his name is Luke Preston.
The Village of Sundridge Council is made up of a mayor and four councillors, all elected at large. Council members rotate as the deputy mayor. Preston will join Mayor Justine Leveque and Councillors Shawn Jackson, Sharon Smith and Fraser Williamson.
Preston will be sworn in at the Wednesday, Sept. 25 council meeting.
MacLachlan was midway through his first term on council when he submitted his letter of resignation on July 2. In the letter, MacLachlan said a serious medical situation now prevented him from serving any further time as a town councillor.
Council received MacLachlan’s letter at its July 17 meeting and said it appreciated the difficult decision MacLachlan made to step off council and commended his work ethic while on council. Council said during his time as a municipal politician, MacLachlan displayed his commitment to council and the community.
At that same July 17 meeting council declared MacLachlan’s seat vacant and the call went out for his replacement.
Three people applied for the vacant seat: Steve Hicks, a former Sundridge councillor who resigned partway through the council’s previous term and then ran unsuccessfully for mayor; Luke Preston, an employee of the District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board; and Laura Sims, who moved to the community 17 years ago.
Each candidate had a separate interview with the council members in the council chambers. They were all asked the same questions and then the council went in camera to decide who would fill the vacancy. Preston was appointed to the seat in a 3-1 decision.
Following his selection, Preston said is very familiar with the current issues the town council faces and is confident of getting up to speed on the issues.
Preston said it’s his goal to make a meaningful contribution that helps “shape a prosperous and inclusive future for everyone.” Thanks to his professional career and involvement with local projects and initiatives, he said he’s seen firsthand how thoughtful, strategic decision-making can improve the quality of life for Sundridge residents.
Over the years Preston has been part of several committees and boards including Sundridge’s Sunflower Festival committee, the Almaguin Highlands Chamber of Commerce and the Labour Market Group. He said this service has given him valuable insight not only to the challenges the community faces but also into the opportunities that can be sought.
During the selection process, each candidate was asked how they would deal with a resident who approached them asking to be exempt from a property standards bylaw so they could put a fence on their property. In the scenario, the property owner also claimed a municipal employee said this was possible.
In his response, Preston said he would gather as much information from the individual as possible and would ask which municipal worker the homeowner spoke to. He also wanted the property owner to understand he is one voice and once before council, this would be a council decision. Preston said he would inform the property owner of the council's decision.
Regarding a question about what council could do better, Preston said he wanted to find a way to get more people interested in sitting on future town councils and committees. “You see the same five to 10 people on the same committees volunteering,” he told council. “People get burned out.”
He identified improving transportation in the area as an initiative and adding more fibre optics because he believes, the way the world is going, more people are working from their homes and they will need internet services.
Rocco Frangione is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Almaguin News. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
