Lac La Biche County councillors respond to Mayor Aurel Langevin's resignation

Following the sudden resignation of Lac La Biche County's Mayor Aurel Langevin, Councillor John Nowak says he disagrees with Langevin's reasons for leaving, which include Council's strained relationship with senior administrators and not seeing eye-to-eye with other councillors.
"That there are ideological differences, certainly I could agree with that," Nowak said. "To say that Council is always in the wrong - that's a pretty big stretch."
"I really don't like the way that Council's conduct has been called into question in this matter," he noted. "I think it's very petty."
The POST asked other members of Council for statements on the mayor's resignation, which took effect immediately. Councillors Wanda Austin and Dave Phillips declined to comment.
"I just wish him well," said Councillor MJ Siebold.
"We wish everybody the best in whatever they decide to do," said Councillor Rick Olson.
In a news release issued by the County Tuesday afternoon, Deputy Mayor Robert Richard also wished Langevin well and thanked him for his "dedicated years of public service."
"With strong people on Council and in administration, I am confident in our ability to continue to provide the high level of municipal service residents are accustomed to," he said.
Richard will serve as acting mayor until a by-election to replace Langevin is held. As legislative services manager Melanie McConnell explained to Council, a new deputy mayor will need to be selected during Council's next regular meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 13.
Commenters on the POST's Facebook page have speculated that Council is becoming too difficult to work with. Some have suggested that councillors are steering the municipal government to suit their own interests - another point that Nowak says he disagrees with.
"I still feel that this Council is doing some good things," he said. "We have good people on Council, people who don't have any vested interests as far as lining their pockets on any decisions they make. These are people who are taking a lot of their time and energy and they're giving it to the community."
Langevin's resignation comes not long after major staffing changes that have shuffled County administrators' ranks. Chief administrative officer (CAO) Roy Brideau was fired without cause in February, acting assistant CAO Nancy Broadbent resigned in March and acting CAO Jeff Lawrence stepped down in April.
With files from Andrew Bates.