Council member Chris Unkle says he will resign after selling his house and moving out of Derby

Council member Chris Unkle announced at the June 24 meeting that he will resign his council seat after selling his home and leaving Derby city limits.

“Mayor, I am going to have to resign my council seat,” Unkle said during the public forum portion of the meeting, explaining he had sold his house and therefore no longer lived in the city. He called his departure “bittersweet” and reflected on nearly four years of service.

Unkle said he did not plan a formal speech but recounted how he was recruited to run, the learning curve of municipal government and the difficult public debates he faced. He discussed constituents’ reactions to development proposals and referenced recent contentious meetings in which residents opposed projects, calling the experience a lesson in “NIMBY.”

Fellow council members spoke in response. Council member Tripp said Unkle had been “a friendly face, always kind, always supportive,” and thanked him for “leading with common sense.” Council member Wayne Molt called Unkle’s service “fun” and said his absence would leave “a hole.” Council member Webster thanked Unkle “for being the partner on Ward 4” and noted their long acquaintance.

Because the council lost a quorum later in the meeting, the mayor said the remainder of the agenda, including consent and new business, would be carried to the July 8 meeting. Unkle did not indicate a specific final date for his departure; no formal resignation document or effective date was provided during the June 24 meeting.