CORNWALL, Ontario – Brock Frost has officially – this time – resigned as a Cornwall city councillor.
The rookie councillor turned in his keys to city hall via email, not unlike this past summer when he sent an electronic missive indicating he would be resigning by July.
But this time his resignation has been confirmed by officials at city hall, including Mayor Leslie O’Shaughnessy who indicated Monday morning the decision is immediate.
Frost was not in attendance at Monday night’s council meeting.
Frost’s letter of resignation was emailed to Seaway News at about 9:30 Monday morning. He had posted on Facebook his decision to resign.
Frost blamed his busy schedule and move to Ottawa as reasons for the resignation.
“I vastly underestimated the amount of work required as a city councillor,” he said. “Despite what the salary suggests, being a councillor is not a part-time job. There are council meetings, numerous committee meetings, special meetings, strategic planning, dealing with the general public and countless community events.
“It is a full-time job if one wishes to be truly effective.”
Frost also conceded his performance was not good enough.
“The constituents definitely deserve better…from their elected officials, and my colleagues certainly deserve better from me,” he said. “I have always lived by the philosophy that there are no failures in life, only experiences. I have learned a great deal about myself over this last year and I wholeheartedly intend to return to politics sometime in the near future.”
While the city has an array of options for replacing Frost, including a byelection, it is more likely a successor will be apppointed to the position.
When previous city councillors have resigned the individual who placed 11th in most recent election has been asked to fill the position, which would mean former councillor Denis Carr could make a return to the city council table.
Carr actually finished 12th, but 11th place finisher Guy St-Jean has moved out of the city.
Carr is currently president of the Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce.
City council Monday night declared Frost’s seat vacant, and is expected to receive a report on the options for filling the spot at its first meeting in November.
