Swanton's former mayor retires from village council

6/26/2007

SWANTON - William Belinger, who has served three times as mayor of the village of Swanton and has been a councilman for about 25 years, resigned last night, effective Saturday.

Mayor Tandy Grubbs said that Mr. Belinger, 68, has been "a mentor for a lot of us," and village officials applauded Mr. Belinger near the end of the council meeting and thanked him for his years of service.

Mr. Belinger, whose term runs until the end of 2009, said after the meeting that he has decided to do other things than attend council meetings on Monday nights.

He added that his wife is retiring so now is a good time to resign from his elected duties.

He was appointed to council in 1978, and then served for a dozen years. He later returned to council, and has been a member for the last 13 1/2 years.

During his years on council, he was appointed mayor three times when the seat became vacant in the middle of mayoral terms. Each time, he was appointed mayor because he was council president, he explained.

Village council has 30 days to fill the vacancy.

If council does not appoint someone within that time, the mayor would make the appointment.

Officials last night weren't certain if the person who fills the seat would have to run in November to retain the seat and finish out the unexpired term.