During their regular July 12 session, members of Alfred-Plantagenet Township council declared the Ward 2 seat of Yves Laviolette vacant. Laviolette assumed the position of mayor last month as a result of former mayor Stéphane Sarrazin becoming the new Progressive Conservative MPP for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell following the June 2 provincial election.

The Municipal Act requires that when a council seat becomes seat, council must find a new person to occupy it. Two replacement methods are available, either by appointment or by holding a by-election.

Council has to fill the vacancy before August when the « lame duck » status for all local councils takes effect prior to the October municipal election. There is not enough time to hold a by-election so council must appoint someone to fill the vacant seat.

Councillor Suzanne Lafrance, who continues to represent Ward 2 along with Councillor René Beaulne, suggested asking Jean-Pierre Cadieux to accept the post. Cadieux finished second to Sarrazin for the mayor’s seat in the 2018 municipal election.

Council voted to have administration contact Cadieux about filling the vacancy.