DIDSBURY – The town’s mayor has been given an extended absence from the job.
The last regular council meeting Rhonda Hunter attended was May 24.
At it’s July 12 regular meeting, Town of Didsbury council approved a motion to approve Hunter’s absence from council and that it be reviewed if required at the first regular council meeting in October.
Deputy mayor Curt Engel said council was very happy to grant the extended absence out of consideration and respect after Hunter’s husband’s unexpected passing on May 30.
“This was done to support her, during this time of grief, and arrangements were made to ensure that all council operations and committees continued to function in her absence,” Engel said in an email to the Albertan.
The mayor sits on the Emergency Advisory Committee, Inter-Municipal Cooperation Committee, Municipal Area Partnership, Mayors of South Central Alberta, Council Visioning Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. She is an alternate for the Inter Agency Committee and Central Alberta Economic Partnership.
“We have processes in place when someone is absent, which include myself acting in her place during this absence, which I am happy to do for her,” Engel said.
Council’s Aug. 23 regular meeting was the first since July 12 after council took a summer break. Engel chaired the meeting in her absence.
According to the Municipal Government Act, a council member would face disqualification if absent from all regular council meetings held during any period of eight consecutive weeks, starting with the date that the first meeting is missed if the absence is not authorized by a resolution passed by council.
Ethan Gorner, the town’s chief administrative officer, said that’s why council passed its July 12 motion, wanting to give Hunter as much leeway as possible.
