Considering the number of candidates that have already filed, there’s a good chance the current council could become a “lame duck” in the weeks preceding and following this fall’s municipal election.
With that in mind, Clerk Patty?Sinnamon has proposed a bylaw to delegate council authorities to other officials to ensure the township “can continue to operate in a smooth and efficient manner during a potential lame duck council.”
According to the Municipal Act, a council becomes a lame duck, which means it is restricted in its ability to act, when a new council “will include less than three-quarters of the members of the outgoing council.”
That means a council can become a lame duck during the period between election day and the end of the term (in this case from Oct. 25 to Nov. 30), but also between nomination day (Sept. 10) and election day if the slate of candidates does not include 75% of the outgoing council.
Under lame duck status, a council cannot:
– appoint or remove from office any officer of the municipality;
– hire or dismiss township employees;
– sell municipal property with a value greater than $50,000; or
– make any expenditures or incur any other liability exceeding $50,000.
The final two restrictions do not apply if the items were included in the annual budget; however a lame duck council can not approve any such purchases if the amount of the tender exceeds the budgeted amount.
Sinnamon told council that not being able to hire new staff “has the potential to cause difficulties and negatively impact the day-to-day operations of the municipality.”
She explained the hiring of winter maintenance staff usually occurs early in the fall and the township is also looking to hire an administrative assistant and may not fill the position until after nomination day.
But perhaps the biggest concern is the possibility of a contract being awarded for the construction of an additional lagoon cell at the township’s wastewater treatment plant.
Last February, the township received about $1.11-million in funding from the federal and provincial governments for upgrades at its wastewater treatment plant, with the township to contribute the remaining one-third ($558,467) of the overall cost of over $1.67-million.
At the time of the funding announcement, Mayor John Green said the township will cover its portion of the costs with reserves.
Last week, Green said if the township is to meet the March 31 deadline for major infrastructure projects that received funding, council will have to turn some powers over to staff. However, he noted the premier has recently stated funding will not be removed from projects that are already underway but not completed by the deadline.
Council voted unanimously in favour of a resolution directing Sinnamon to bring a “delegating-of-authority” bylaw tot council’s meeting on Aug. 24. Councillor Jim Curry was absent.
