GUELPH/ERAMOSA - Councillor Louise Marshall is stepping down from her role effective today.
The Ward 3 councillor provided her letter of resignation on Feb. 18 due to medical reasons. Council will formally declare the position vacant at Monday’s virtual council meeting.
“We had some inkling a few weeks ago that this is the direction she’s going in. She’s had some medical issues for a little while, so she’s going to resign now to take care of her health. It’s unfortunate that her health is declining,” said Mayor Chris White in a phone interview.
“We’re sorry to see her go. She was a fantastic councillor and a very important member of the community, especially in Eden Mills for a long time. She knew her stuff and worked hard for her community. She will be sorely missed.”
Marshall has been in office for seven years, with the 2018 elections being her second term. Previously, she worked as an administrative assistant for the City of Guelph and owned her family-run business importing single-estate, extra virgin olive oil from the Tuscany region of Italy.
Township council will also further discuss on how they will move forward in replacing her on Monday.
In a report submitted by Amanda Knight, township’s director of legislative services, the township has a few options to pick when it comes to replacing Marshall:
- Appointing a councillor from the 2018 municipal election candidates
- Appointment by call for applications
- Direct appointment by council, which is appointing an eligible individual without an application process and without referencing recent election results
- Council directing a by-election, which is an election for the vacant seat 60 days after it was declared vacant
Attempts to reach Marshall for comment were not immediately successful.
