Following the recent resignation of its mayor and one of two councillors, Cremona has also now lost its chief administrative officer, Terry Lofstrom.
With the departure of three village officials, the province was forced to step in and appoint an interim administrator who will act as council until the matter is rectified.
The lone remaining councillor, Karel Beckman, said the whole ordeal was quite a shock to him, as he had simply showed up to the regular council meeting one evening to learn that it had been cancelled due to the mayor, Leslie Abrams, and councillor’s, Malinda Whittle, resignations.
A special meeting was called for March 26 by the official administrator, Darrell Joyce, to appoint interim expenditure signing officers for the Village of Cremona.
Beckman said the meeting was essentially a non-event, but regardless, the hall was packed with interested villagers.
“A gentleman from Municipal Affairs ran the meeting with one item on the agenda, and that was to appoint the signing officers,” said Beckman. “However, he did not provide much clarification with respect to timeframes and processes.”
Cremona, population of approximately 460, is currently undergoing a viability study to determine whether the village can properly function or will have to be under the legislative control of Mountain View County.
The review is expected to be complete sometime before the summer.
Beckman has said previously that the results of the review could indicate that the village would not dissolve, which was also on the table following signatures from 162 Cremona residents last year asking for the Department of Municipal Affairs to do just that.
The Cochrane Eagle had previously attempted to contact Abrams for comment, but did not receive a reply.
Beckman said if there is another election in Cremona for council, he would be happy to once again run as a councillor.
