Tillsonburg Mayor Chosen

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Friday, 2 May 2014 12:21

Tillsonburg's new Mayor, Dave Beres stands behind his new chair in the town's Council Chamber.

Tillsonburg Town Councillor Dave Beres will now sit as Interim Mayor for the town until this fall's municipal election.

TILLSONBURG -- A senior member of Tillsonburg Town Council is now the Town's interim Mayor.

Dave Beres was voted 5-to-1 to the top chair Friday morning after being nominated by fellow Councillor Brian Stephenson.

"I'm very much looking forward to this process and the next few months, I guess nine meetings," said Beres following the special meeting on Friday morning at Tillsonburg Town Centre. This council has a mandate, and my intention is to continue with that mandate and we'll use the word 'cruise-control' until the end of the term."

With Beres moving over the the Mayor's chair for the remainder of the council term, his former seat on council is now vacant -- an issue he says will be addressed at the next meeting meeting of council May 12th.

He adds he's relieved council was able to reach a quick decision on the position of Mayor, adding there are a number of things upcoming for the town this spring which need to be addressed.

"Without a doubt the most important issue coming up is May 14th with the public meeting on the disposition of Tillsonburg Hydro."

Although he did not offer any personal comments on the Tillsonburg Hydro situation involving any possible sale or merger he did he's happy council is better prepared for making difficult choices with the mayor's chair now occupied for the interim.

"I do hope to moderate that meeting and as the moderator, will make sure that everything is covered and then before we're done that Council will have something to go on prior to making any decision."

Beres says he looking forward to the process, with nine meetings left on council's current mandate. He also stressed in a written statement which he read to council that he would not be seeking to run for the Mayor's chair in October.

While he won't be seeking to run in October for Mayor, Beres instead plans to offer for a seat on council once again.

In the meantime, Town Council now has a vacancy to fill on its ranks. Council decided to seek the appointment of an eligible elector or the next runner-up from the 2010 election for a vacant Council seat. Anyone chosen still needs to be qualified and must be willing to accept a position on council.

Beres says the issue will be addressed at the next meeting meeting of council May 12th.

"Nothing has been decided at this point, what we're going to do, as in the past it has always been given to the next person on the ballot, or at least offered or invited to come. Some people may turn it down, we don't know that. But out of courtesy and respect for the electorate I think it's important that the person be offered the position."

Beres says he looking forward to the process of working with council as Mayor, with nine meetings left on council's current mandate.

The Mayor's chair was declared vacant after former Mayor John Lessif stepped down April 30th.

The facts on Dave Beres:

-Senior member of Council with first elected term in 1994.

-Served 10 years with Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital. (1998-2008)

-Served 4 years with the Police Service Board. (2006-2010)

-Volunteer to many local fundraisers, (particularly those cancer related)

-Self employed with 30 years in business within the Town of Tillsonburg.