Sarnia council plans to further discuss the idea of creating a deputy mayor's position in September.
City councillor Cindy Scholten proposed appointing councillor and current county warden Bev MacDougall on a one year trial basis but MacDougall declined.
MacDougall thinks there is merit to the idea of a deputy mayor.
"As I reflect on some unfortunate circumstances that I've seen play out in the county, I think of our late colleague Joe DeDecker for instance and his unfortunate drowning accident and all of a sudden there was a scramble, he had passed away, and St. Clair (Township ) had a deputy mayor who could step in," she said. "I want to thank Councillor Scholten for her confidence, but it is a big thing and I am very busy right now where I am."
The integrity commissioner recommended in his report on Mayor Mike Bradley that a deputy mayor and executive committee should be considered.
The city currently has a rotating system for the position of Acting Mayor, when the mayor is absent.
