Witless Bay councillor tenders resignation, no date set for byelection
By Mark Squibb \ May 5, 2023
Councillor Alex Troake has resigned from Witless Bay council.
Mayor Trevor Croft informed the public of Troake’s resignation at the tail end of last week’s public meeting, the first in-person, public session council has held since the start of the pandemic, in fact the first such public meeting since the group was elected two years ago.
Troake served on the finance committee, and worked closely on files relating to Town finances. It was Troake, along with Deputy Mayor Lorna Yard, who recommended council hire Sean Kavanagh as Town CAO, forgoing the hiring of a consultant, which, in Troake’s words, “saved the town thousands of dollars that would previously have been paid to a consultant.”
The Town has since parted ways with Kavanagh for undisclosed reasons and has struggled to keep other staff.
Troake and Yard also worked together on the hiring of a new fire chief, Jack Gatherall, again keeping the work in-house, after the former chief resigned.
Troake had also strenuously argued against increasing funding for the Bay Bulls to Bauline Athletic Association, claiming, amongst other things, that “the BBBAA chose to sit on their hands,” during the pandemic when it came to seeking financing from other sources, and that the organization was too “Bay Bulls-centric.” The BBBAA serves as a de facto recreation department for both communities.
With the multi-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) between council and the BBBAA set to expire at the close of 2022, Troake recommended council re-consider signing a new one arguing council should instead look at funding the group year-by-year.
The MOU has since been repeatedly delayed, and as of today no firm decision has been made as to whether Witless Bay will continue to partner with the organization when it comes to recreation services.
Troake did not attend last week’s meeting and had not attended the last number of meetings.
During last week’s meeting, Croft told the public Troake “has decided to move on to other opportunities… We will let the public know when there will be a by-election.”
Alex Troake has tendered his resignation from Witless Bay council. The rookie councillor was elected in September 2021 and served on council’s finance committee. Submitted photo
