Townend reappointed as board of health chair after exiting municipal politics
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Photo by Meghan Balogh/The Kingston Whig-StandardKINGSTON — Members of the Southeast Public Health Board of Health re-appointed chair Nathan Townend during a board meeting on Wednesday. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your community. Unlimited online access to all articles on thewhig. com. Access to subscriber-only content, including History: As We Saw It, a weekly newsletter that rips history from our archives, which span almost 190 years. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists. Subscribe now to read the latest news in your community. Unlimited online access to all articles on thewhig. com. Access to subscriber-only content, including History: As We Saw It, a weekly newsletter that rips history from our archives, which span almost 190 years. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists. Create an account or sign in to keep reading. Access more articles from thewhig. com. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Get email updates from your favourite journalists. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorTownend stepped away from elected office earlier in June to take on the role of director communications and community development for Lennox & Addington County. He had served in municipal government for eight years, most recently as deputy mayor for Loyalist Township and warden for Lennox & Addington County. He was first elected to municipal council in 2018 as a councillor for Amherst Island. Townend told the Whig on Thursday that his reappointment, first by the county to his role on the board, and then by the board to be reappointed as chair, was a formal process to allow him to continue filling the role he was elected to at the beginning of the year. In a memo to the board of health, medical officer of health Dr. Piotr Oglaza recommended that the board re-appoint Townend for the remainder of the 2026 term. “(The county) needed to reappoint me in my civilian capacity, which they did on June 17, and the board simply needed to reappoint me as chair,” he said. “These were really formalities to continue more or less the status quo, and I was pleased that the board wanted me to continue as chair. ”Townend said he doesn’t anticipate his shift from politics to county staff will impact his role as board of health chair. “We’re still in the merger process, the municipal election is looming, we’re trying to get through a strategic plan, and it’s kind of an important time to maintain some stable leadership,” he said. “I wanted to be able to continue to offer that, and I’m glad the board wanted me to. ”In a statement on its website, Loyalist Township Mayor Jim Hegadorn congratulated Townend on his new staff role with the county. “His dedication to public service and his commitment to improving the lives of residents have made a meaningful and lasting impact on our municipality,” Hegadorn said. “We are grateful for his leadership, collaboration, and advocacy on behalf of Loyalist. We look forward to the continued positive impact he will have in his new role. ”“Nathan brings a unique combination of communications and government relations experience, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of our communities,” Brenda Orchard, chief administrative officer for the County of Lennox and Addington, said in a statement on the county’s website earlier this month. “His experience at the local, county, and provincial levels will be a tremendous asset as we continue to advance council’s priorities and enhance engagement with residents, businesses, and community partners. ”mbalogh@postmedia. comJoin the ConversationThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more aboutcookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to ourTerms of UseandPrivacy Policy.