Council to elect Mayor

Despite the possibility of council amalgamations, advice from the Office of Local Government says the Council should hold a mayoral election in September.

Many Councils across the state will have general council elections in September, however there will be no general election in Orange because a decision on a merger with Cabonne Council and Blayney Shire Council is still pending.

But Orange councillors will vote for the position of Mayor, Deputy Mayor and committee chairs at the next council meeting on September 6.

Orange Mayor John Davis said an extra meeting would be held on the normal committee meeting night but at the earlier time of 6pm.

“Because we’re waiting on a decision regarding mergers its business as usual here at Orange City Council,” Cr Davis said.

“We’re getting on with the job.”

At the last general council election, the people of Orange voted to have a popularly elected mayor, but because there are no general council elections this will not occur.

“The advice from the Office of Local Government is that we proceed as we have in the past, whereby councillors chose the Mayor,” Cr Davis said.