PORT HARDY – There won’t be a by-election to replace Coun. Stan McLennan, but one councillor thought there should be. McLennan resigned unexpectedly in January leaving one chair vacant at the Port Hardy council table, but a by-election is optional since a general municipal election is scheduled for November. Coun. Nikki Shaw saw merit in holding a by-election. “It would give an incumbent a chance to decide if they wanted to continue,” said Shaw at a regular council meeting Feb. 8. “And the expense isn’t that great. Somebody might want to do it.”The cost to the District to run a by-election would be about $3,500, council was told. “Thirty-five hundred dollars is $3,500 and I just can’t see it,” said Coun. Al Huddlestan. “We hope next time an election rolls around there’ll be a full slate of candidates. But it doesn’t make sense right now.”Coun. Eric Ralph agreed by for different reasons. “It’s not the cost that bothers me,” said Ralph. “It’s the staff time. The OCP is going to be full blown and there are other things going on.”A vote passed a motion to forgo the by-election 3 to 1 with Shaw opposed. Harbour bylawHow to regulate those who live aboard their boats at municipal docks will be one issue addressed in a review of the harbour bylaws.”Our harbour bylaw really needs to be rewritten and we are starting to look at that,” said Gloria Le Gal, manager of corporate services in response to comments from the harbour commission. “It’s questionable whether the live aboards are a bonus or a detriment to us.”

North Island Gazette