Mr Dalley will be drawing the curtain on about 26 years of involvement with the Hurunui District Council, nine of them as mayor, six as a councillor and the rest as a member of his local Waikari community ward committee after the local government elections in mid-October.
He described yesterday's meeting as a little different and a little special, before getting down to the business of the day.
Mr Dalley previously told the North Canterbury News he stood for this last term because the district was gripped by drought. He was chairman of the drought committee and was trying to keep the community in a good space.
Three weeks after the election, the district was faced with another big challenge when the November 2016 earthquake hit Waiau and surrounding areas.
"You don't walk out on a community when things are not good,'' he says.
This time, though, there was no compelling reason to remain.
"It is time to move on and leave it to other people who have a different contribution to make, to stand,'' Mr Dalley says.
