Council gets lame duck education

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Tillsonburg council received a refresher course in the meaning and implications of what is unofficially known as the “lame duck period” at its last meeting.

Actually, a provision of the Ontario Municipal Act, the unofficial “lame duck” term refers to two possible scenarios where council must temporarily designate its authority to the CAO, and there are restrictions on spending.

Clerk Trisha McKibbin explained there are two possible lame duck periods – the first between when nominations close on Aug. 21 and election day, and the second between voting day and when the new council is sworn in on Nov. 15. The lame duck scenario comes into play in the first scenario if less than 75 per cent of current council members are not running again, while the second possibility comes into play if less than 75 per cent of current council are re-elected.

The threshold for Tillsonburg council is five or less members. With Coun. Pete Luciani telling the Post last week he won’t be running again, and Coun. Bob Parsons leaning that way, the odds are currently good the legislation will come into play.

The legislation restricts council during a lame duck period from the appointment or removal of any officer of the municipality, hiring or dismissal of any employee, making any expenditures exceeding $50,000 outside of the previously-approved budget, and the disposition of any municipal property with a value exceeding $50,000. McKibbin said if there are active property files anticipated to come to council during a lame duck period, council can provide direction prior to it starting.

McKibbin also provided an update on advance poll locations for institutions and retirement homes. These will be offered at Maple Manor Nursing Home, Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital, Woodingford Lodge, Tillsonburg Retirement Home, and Harvest Crossing Retirement Community as required by provisions in the Municipal Act. Previously, advanced polls were offered at other locations, but some of these will be eliminated this election due to low turnout, the availability of online and telephone voting and in-person options at the Voter Help Centre.

“We’re finding as more seniors subdivisions and apartment buildings come on line it’s harder to determine what should and shouldn’t be,” McKibbin said. “What we are doing for the 2026 election is stick to the Municipal Elections Act and those areas that meet criteria.”