After eight years with the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, municipal clerk Peter Todd has run his last council meeting.

New chief administrator Marnie Cluckie fired Todd about two weeks ago. The town has begun a recruitment search for his replacement.

The move was unannounced and came as a surprise to people who tuned in to watch the committee of the whole planning meeting on June 7.

“It is unfortunate that my employment with Niagara-on-the-Lake has ended,” Todd told The Lake Report in a LinkedIn message.

“I’ve greatly appreciated the time I spent there and the experience I have gained,” he said.

“I had the opportunity to learn from many dedicated and knowledgeable staff who I will sincerely miss.”

Todd started as an intern with the town in 2013 and became municipal clerk in 2017. Among other duties, the clerk organizes council meetings and  helps draft bylaws and agendas. It is considered one of the senior jobs within the town bureaucracy.

For now, Todd said he is focusing on finishing his master’s degree in public administration at Western University before seeking future opportunities.

His role as town clerk has been filled by deputy clerk Colleen Hutt. She has delegated power to Tara Druzina to run all public council meetings and committees of the whole.