A Westlock County councillor will return to work after criminal charges laid following a dust-up in council chambers last month have been withdrawn.
In Westlock Provincial Court May 25, Judge Norman Mackie allowed Coun. Dennis Primeau, 66, to sign a peace bond. In doing so, Crown prosecutor Jeff Morrison withdrew one count of assault against the Div. 7 councillor.
Primeau was charged following a physical altercation with reeve Bud Massey prior to an April 19 policy meeting at the county office.
A subsequent restraining order prevented Primeau from attending May 10 and May 24 council meetings. That condition has since been modified to a no-contact order for contact outside of their duties as elected officials.
Massey said council is pleased that the situation is now in the past and looks forward to resuming business as usual.
“I think it’s good that it’s resolved and we can now move forward,” said Massey.
“We’re going to do the best job we can for the people for Westlock County.”
Primeau will be back for the June 14 council meeting at which time he is required publicly apologize to Massey. Despite the criminal proceedings, he said he won’t shy away from his duties as an elected official.
“I wanted to go to court, but it’s going to be a long protracted process and expensive,” Primeau said.
A peace bond is a court order that involves a person to, among other conditions, keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a period of time. A peace bond is not an admission of guilt.
Terms of Primeau’s 12-month $2,000 no-cash peace bond include that he report to probation as directed, take necessary counselling as directed and keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
