Council Chairman steps down after six months

OMAGH Councillor Chris Smyth has stepped down from the role of Chairman of the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council after just six months in the job.
At Tuesday night’s monthly council meeting, the UUP Councillor made the announcement that he had stepped down from his role as Council chairman.
Cllr Smyth will continue working in his role as an Omagh councillor.
Following the announcement, Cllr Smyth explained that it was always his intention to step down after six months to allow Cllr Diana Armstrong to take up the mantle.
Speaking to the Ulster Herald, Cllr Smyth said, “This was always the plan from the start of my term.
“I wanted to take on the role as Chairman, but didn’t think I could do it for a year, so Diana agreed to take up the role for the last six months of the term.
“As things have worked out, it works out well because I have the final pieces of my PHD due now and I couldn’t do it all at the one time.
“I have had a great six months but I have been burning the candles at both ends so I am glad to be handing the role over to Diana,” said Cllr Smyth.
FODC Chief Executive Alison McCullagh confirmed that the council had formally received the resignation of Cllr Smyth.
UUP Councillor Diana Armstrong was nominated by the party to take up the role for the remaining six months with Vice Chairman John Coyle remaining in his position.
Due to Covid19 regulation, the monthly council meeting was held virtually, and the meeting was chaired by new Chairwoman Diana Armstrong.
Cllr Smyth said it had been a year that no-one had expected, and thanked all those who had supported him during his role.
Cllr Smyth said, “There are figures that people have used around the council such as the number of food parcels given out, the amount of money for community groups or the number of businesses who have received the confidence mark.
“I don’t really think numbers do justice to the very human and personal journey that Covid has been for us all.
“I am delighted that Diana is stepping into the hot seat after me and in more normal times, I would love to be handing over the chain personally, but for now, it is a socially distanced handover,” said Cllr Smyth.