Council here is preparing for the possibility they will be relegated to “lame duck” status before the Oct. 27 municipal election.
A council becomes “lame duck” and restricted from taking certain actions if, after the close of nominations on Sept. 12, it is certain that a minimum number of members of the existing council will not be on the new council. If the number of council members is to remain unchanged after the election, that figure is three-quarters of the existing council.
Restrictions include:
– appointment or removal from office of any officer of the municipality;
– hiring or dismissal of any employee of the municipality;
– the disposition of any municipal property with a value exceeding $50,000; and
– making any expenditures or incurring any other liability which exceeds $50,000.
In a report at the July 8 meeting, CAO Patty Sinnamon recommended council prepare a bylaw delegating “executive authority” to the CAO “to ensure operations continue to operate in an efficient manner during a potential lame duck council.”
If the provision needs to be enacted, the CAO would be required to discuss matters with the sitting council and receive a consensus of two-thirds of the existing council prior to making a decision. However, if the situation is deemed “urgent” the CAO will proceed with the decision and inform the sitting council at the earliest convenience and incorporate any subsequent permissible revisions.
Few incumbents in running
If the election were to be held based on nominations filed as of this week’s Wellington Advertiser deadline, only one existing council member, either of the two mayoral candidates Neil Driscoll and Jim Curry, would be on the new council.
There are currently five non-incumbents running for the four councillor positions: Lori Woodham, Albert Runstedler, Angie Culp, Nadia Sommerville and Paul Douglas.
Council directed staff to prepare a delegation bylaw to be presented for consideration at the July 22 meeting.
