THUNDER BAY – City councillor Shelby Ch’ng has been appointed to fill one of three vacant seats on the Thunder Bay Police Services Board, potentially allowing the body to once again officially hold meetings.
Three of the board’s five members resigned in protest in April after an outside administrator was appointed to oversee the board.
The Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) granted administrator Malcolm Mercer sweeping powers to act on behalf of the board after an initial investigation deemed dysfunction within the police services board threatened its ability to function properly.
The OCPC was forced to expand Mercer's powers after a majority of the board resigned in protest, allowing him to make decisions entirely without the board's involvement.
Thunder Bay’s city council appoints three members on the board, including two members of council and one citizen appointee.
Mayor Bill Mauro remains on the police services board, while Coun. Kristen Oliver, who had served as chair, was one of those who resigned.
Georjann Morriseau, the city’s citizen appointee, is the other remaining board member, though she recently took a leave.
Council voted unanimously to appoint Ch’ng, a second-term councillor for the Northwood Ward, as one of the council representatives on the board at a Monday meeting, after holding a discussion behind closed doors.
Two provincially-appointed seats remain vacant.
