MAYOR OF FERNDOWN CLLR PAULINE REYNOLDS WITH DEPUTY MAYOR CLLR MIKE PARKES AFTER THE ELECTION © mags4dorset 2014
Following the sudden resignation of the Mayor of Ferndown, Cllr John Lewis on 16 January 2014 a special meeting was held by Ferndown Town Council on 27 January to elect a new mayor.
At the meeting, the Town Clerk Ian Jones explained that it was not a straightforward matter of the deputy standing up, but that councilors would have to nominate and elect a new mayor.
Cllr Pauline Reynolds was nominated and she made it clear that she had only allowed her name to be put forward because she is chairman of the Finance and General Purposes Committee and wished to look seriously at the precept in the next three months. She said, “We need to look at the financial side, not at the figurehead. I have no intention of standing for mayor in May.”
Cllr Terry Cordery proposed Deputy Mayor Cllr Steve Lugg who was nominated in his absence as he was on holiday.
A secret ballot was held and the majority vote went to Cllr Pauline Reynolds. On taking up her chain of office she said, “My top priority is looking after the precept and delivering it.”
After she was sworn in, the town clerk announced that Cllr Lugg had advised the council that should he not be elected mayor, he wished to stand down as deputy mayor. In view of this, a further election followed. Cllr Peter Lucas and Cllr Mike Parkes were nominated and following a secret ballot Cllr Michael Parkes was elected as deputy mayor.
