The City of 91原创 has a new acting mayor.
Councillor Ted Schaffer, who ran unopposed for the position on Wednesday night, will carry out the role for the next 16 months.
鈥淚t鈥檚 my pleasure to serve as acting mayor and I appreciate my colleagues鈥� confidence,鈥� said Schaffer, following the vote, which was taken during a special meeting on July 31.
Schaffer fills the position vacated by Mayor Peter Fassbender, who took an unpaid leave of absence after being elected last May to serve as the Liberal MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood.
Fassbender chaired his last meeting in late June. Since then, deputy mayor Gayle Martin had been filling the role. Council opted not to hold a byelection following Fassbender鈥檚 departure.
The former mayor will officially resign on Jan. 2, 2014, but Schaffer will carry on serving in an 鈥渁cting鈥� capacity until the next municipal election in November, 2014.
Schaffer said on Thursday that he is uncertain whether he will then run for the position.
鈥淚t鈥檚 premature right now,鈥� he said.
鈥淚鈥檓 just happy to serve on council and fulfill these duties right now that Peter (Fassbender) did.
鈥淚鈥檇 just like the City to stay the course and I鈥檇 like to see infrastructure improve and quality of life,鈥� Schaffer said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I made those motions,鈥� he added, referring to the July 22 meeting during which he made seven motions related to the City鈥檚 walking trails, off leash dog parks, funding for maintenance in the downtown core and community gardens.
Schaffer said he hopes that will generate some input from the community.
鈥淚鈥檇 like to see the path (the City is on) continue and I鈥檇 like to see a little more communication with the residents and the stakeholders of the community,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he main thing is . . . I love the City. Jean and I have lived here for 33 years, raised our kids here.
鈥淎nd I just wanted the City to stay on the course that it鈥檚 on now, and I felt I could do that in conjunction with my colleagues on council.鈥�
Prior to the provincial election, Schaffer was not thinking about the mayorship, he said.
Schaffer was first elected to 91原创 City council in 1990. He served continuously until 2008 before taking a three-year break and then being re-elected in November, 2011.
He cited overwhelming demands of a job he took, post-retirement, in Gloucester Estates with a major hydro electric contractor, where he found himself putting in eleven and a half hour days, as his reason for stepping away.
鈥淚 just couldn鈥檛 cram it all in,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 stepped back from council, I stepped back from my Rotary Club. I just totally focused on my new work commitment there.鈥�
Schaffer said he is now able to commit himself fully to the role, for as long as it lasts.
鈥淚 hope people know that I鈥檓 accessible 鈥� my phone is always available.鈥�
