Winnipeg Police Board loses another member

The Winnipeg Police Board is down another member.

Already without a chair following the resignation of North Kildonan Coun. Jeff Browaty,the volunteer boardis now without a finance chair, as businessperson Derek Johannson has tendered his resignation.

• Jeff Browaty resigns as chair of Winnipeg Police Board

In addition to serving on the police board, Johannson chairs the family-owned Winnipeg business Carlyle Printers, Service and Supply, and is the vice-chair of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

Johannson said the police board, which is intended to offer the Winnipeg Police Service broad policy oversight, required his presenceat more than 50 meetings in 2016. He said that sort of commitment is unsustainable, given his other duties.

"Last year was particularly heavy because of numerous meetings to select a new chief," he said Tuesday in an interview. "It sort of creeps up on you."

Johannson said his experience with the police board will inform his volunteer work for the regional health authority.

"He put a lot of work into it, probably more than some might expect,andI think it wasjustalot for him," police board vice-chair BarryTuckettsaid Tuesday in an interview.

"It's just meetings and meetings and meetings. And it's not that they're unproductive. When we leave the meetings, things have been accomplished. I just think we need to find a way to get things done quicker, and with less meetings."

• Analysis:On a police board, ethnic representation matters

The Winnipeg Police Board is supposed to have seven members, with two appointed by the province and five by the city, including two councillors.

It's now down one city-appointed civilian as well as one councillor. Browatyquit in February after he lost the confidence of the board's Indigenous advisory committee.

Mayor Brian Bowman has yet to appoint a replacement for either member.

Mynarski Coun. Ross Eadie filled in as chair when the board met in March.

Eadie, the lone council member on the board right now, urged the mayor to fill the vacancies.