Troubled municipality's new mayor eager to see control return to council

The new mayor of a troubled southwest New Brunswick community says he's looking forward to control returning to its council.

Leonard Foster was elected mayor of Lakeland Ridges in a byelection Monday, filling a vacancy created when its first mayor resigned in January.

Foster told CBC on Wednesday that he couldn't speak to what went wrong last year that led to the province stepping in and taking control, but hopes the council can work together now.

"I'm a fairly optimistic sort of guy," Foster said. "I've got some experience in this line of work. I like working with boards and that sort of thing. So I'm hoping with my experience and with the other councillors — I hope we're ready to go."

Foster says the return of local control was among the reasons he ran for office.

The municipality includes the former villages of Meductic, seen here, Canterbury and several local service districts. (Shane Fowler/CBC)

The municipality south of Woodstock was created through local governance reforms last year and includes the former communities of Canterbury, Meductic and several local service districts.

Last June, its council failed to agree on an agenda so the meeting didn't go ahead. Two staff members went on medical leave.

By the end of July, the province announced it would take control of the municipality through a supervisor.

A consultant's report from last fall described chaotic council meetings lasting hours and "lacking decorum or respect for rules of procedure."

"Two camps became established with a coalition of five openly organizing outside of council meetings," the report said.

Supervision was extended into this year.

The mayor and two councillors resigned in January, triggering Monday's byelection.

In the mayoral race, Foster received 229 votes, Lance Graham 181 votes and Eric Cummings 148. Dustin Buckingham was acclaimed as a councillor. A third seat remains vacant and another byelection will take place in December.

Last week the province announced it would return control of the municipality back to the elected council as of May 15.

Foster says he hopes the individual communities that make up Lakeland Ridges don't lose their identities.

But he hopes they realize they will have to work together as part of the new municipality.

"So one of the things that council, mayor [and] office staff will have to work on is making sure that Lakeland Ridges becomes Lakeland Ridges."