The current chair of the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority refutes claims he wants to hold on to power.
According to a statement from Board Chair Sandy Annunizata, accompanied by a lawyer's letter, he will be overseeing appointments to the NPCA's new board at the lawyer's recommendation.
An Order in Council noted in the letter harkens back to 1994, outlining an appointment method that was not used for the current board.
"I have no dog in the fight. None whatsoever. If there is an Order in Council that currently hasn't been rescinded, hasn't been revoked, hasn't been replaced, an Order in Council is a law," Annunizata said while speaking with CKTB's Tim Denis this morning. "Find a different way where you don't have to follow an Order in Council, I don't care."
Annunizata, who was not re-elected in the municipal election, says this is in no way an attempt to cling to power.
"I'm not going to suggest that this is not going to go on a little bit, but like I said I have no passion or hidden agenda to remain and cling to power at the Conservation Authority. None whatsoever."
This comes after Welland Mayor Frank Campion, who also sat on the board, submitted his resignation, stating he believes there is an "ethical and moral responsibility to step-down and urges all other Niagara Regional Councillors who are NPCA board members to resign as well."
The NPCA board has been enduring its fair share of controversy including an Auditor General's report that found weak governance and operational issues within the authority.