After some juggling by town staff, you can mark your calendar for an Essex by-election.
Council re-affirmed its position to hold a by-election Monday night, to fill a seat abruptly vacated by Ward 3 Coun. Bill Caixeiro.
“We’ve shortened it by about two weeks, and that’s probably about the best we can do at this point,” said town clerk Robert Auger.
Election Day will now be sooner than expected, on Oct. 23. Advance polls will also be held on Oct. 14.
Only Ward 3 residents will have the chance to cast a ballot -- there are roughly five-thousand eligible voters. Nominations for the vacant seat open at 8:30, Tuesday morning. Nominations close at 2:00 Sept. 7.
There was some debate tonight about whether to re-consider appointing instead of holding a by-election. But ultimately, council supported its initial decision.
"We know that there are some concerns with the by-election, some being the chair isn't filled as soon as we'd like, another being the cost,” Coun. Sherry Bondy said after the special meeting. “We also have some committees that are vacant right now. So having a by-election isn't ideal, there's only a year left. But at the end of the day, it's the democratic thing to do."
Coun. Caixeiro sat on five committees, which remained vacant until tonight. Council appointed Coun. Larry Snively to the police services board, but decided to keep the other boards vacant for the time being until the new councillor is sworn in.
The newly elected councillor will take the oath of office on Nov. 6, which means they will serve on council for a shade under a year prior to the next municipal election in 2018.
