By-election should be held to replace deceased council member

Editor:
Due to the sudden and unfortunate death of Councillor Ed Christie, council was required under the Municipal Act to declare the seat vacant and to take action to fill the position. At last [the Jan. 13] council meeting, council passed the following resolution:
Be it resolved, that Council of the Township of Clearview hereby:
1) Declare the seat for Ward 1 councillor vacant; and;
2) Fill the vacancy by means of appointment to the office within the next 60 days …
So… to fill a seat for the next three years, this council opts to ‘anoint’(my word) the next councillor?
Just so your readers know, three of the remaining people on council were acclaimed in the last election, Burton, Walker and Leishman, with one never having been elected, Leishman, but acclaimed twice.
With the two runners up less than 100 votes apart in the last election, there should be a by-election for democracy’s sake!
Dave Witzke,
Stayner.