Joan Rymal, who served two terms on St. Thomas city council, will be sworn in as a councillor on Dec. 8 to fill a vacant seat
He said he had been considering leaving council since the summer to focus on his position as chair of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers.
"It’s time to staff up and make sure I can hire the resources to provide a safe city," Chief Marc Roskamp said.
Mayor Joe Preston noted the importance of building homes for the city’s growing population, but said new residents will also need places to shop.