The mayor of Hamilton is acting in accordance with a commitment he made a few years ago.
Fred Eisenberger says he will step down from his position on the city’s police services board and attend its final meeting next Thursday.
Eisenberger previously said he would not serve a full term on the board, ushering in a new chairman and a new board appointee who could increase diversity and gender parity.
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The announcement paves the way for the Hamilton City Council to elect a new police board representative when it meets next Wednesday.
The mayor says he originally planned to serve two years on the board, after the 2018 municipal elections, but the challenges of the pandemic plus the need to recruit and appoint a new police chief and deputy chief extended the term.
Leaving now, Eisenberger adds, will create the opportunity for a new board chairman and a new council representative with a full year remaining during the current city council term.
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“While the decision is the responsibility of the council,” says Eisenberger, “my wish would be to take the opportunity to increase the inclusion and diversity of the police services board, and for diversity I include greater gender parity.”
“To my knowledge, the council has not appointed a woman to the Police Services Board in the past 30 years, if it ever has,” adds Eisenberger.
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