The president of the Centretown Citizens Community Association has stepped down suddenly after being offered a job in Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes’s office, says vice-president Jordan Charbonneau.
Charles Akben-Marchand will now be an assistant in addition to his job as an office administrator for a non-profit association.
“Charles first told the CCCA executive about a general ‘conflict of interest’ after our last board meeting on Sept. 20,” says Charbonneau.
“He was also elusive as to what the nature of the conflict was, so I hoped that it would pass and that we could keep him as president; he's a great worker, after all,” adds Charbonneau.
With Akben-Marchand out, Charbonneau will take on the duties of president until the association’s annual general meeting on Oct. 25.
“It is my job as leader to build the association, ensuring it has a positive impact on residents' lives and makes Centretown a better place to live, work and play,” he says.
Akben-Marchand says he will still be a part of the association; however, his new job will require that he take a “backseat role.”
Akben-Marchand says he spent 15 to 20 hours a week volunteering for the association. “It was a lot of fun being president. I like to think we got a lot done.”
Throughout his presidency, Akben-Marchand advocated for planning issues as well as cycling. He was involved in many initiatives including the Rescue Bronson Initiative as well as the Centretown Community Design Plan, says Charbonneau.
Akben-Marchand also updates a popular blog commenting on Centretown’s current state.
“The CCCA was able to keep abreast of so many of the events and initiatives in Centretown simply because Charles was there,” he says.
Charbonneau says he is considering running for president of the association for 2011-2012. “This short stint as acting president until the annual general meeting will give me a sense of whether the workload is manageable.”