THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Police Services Board is set to choose its next chair and vice chair after having been under the authority of an administrator for the past year.
The agenda for the board's meeting on Tuesday lists a resolution to appoint Karen Machado as its next chair, along with the appointment of Denise Baxter as vice chair.
If approved, the appointments would be effective as of July 1.
Machado, a member of the Red Rock Indian Band, is a former superintendent of Thunder Bay correctional facilities and was named to the board by the province in January.
Baxter, the vice-provost of Indigenous initiatives at Lakehead University, was chosen by Thunder Bay city council in February to choose in its civilian appointment position.
The two council representatives on the board are Mayor Ken Boshcoff and Coun. Shelby Ch'ng.
The fifth seat, which is to be appointed by the province, remains vacant.
Administrator Malcolm Mercer has had sole decision-making authority over the board since his appointment by the Ontario Civilian Police Commission in April 2022. His appointment has been subsequently extended on multiple occasions. While the board is set to regain its voting rights in July, Mercer will continue as an administrator until March 31, 2024.
