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WHEREAS on Thursday, February 27, 2025, George Darouze was elected as Member of Provincial Parliament for the riding of Carleton; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Subsection 9(2) of the Legislative Assembly Act, a Member of Council may continue to hold municipal office “until the end of the day on which the return of the election of such person to the Assembly is published in The Ontario Gazette under Section 83 of the Election Act, at which time the member shall be deemed to have resigned such [municipal] office”; and
WHEREAS in accordance with Section 262 of the Municipal Act, 2001, when a Member resigns or is deemed to have resigned, City Council is statutorily mandated to declare the Office to be vacant at its “next meeting”; and
WHEREAS it is anticipated that Councillor Darouze will have resigned or have deemed to have resigned prior to the next regular City Council meeting of March 26, 2025, and Council will be in a position to declare the seat of City Councillor for Ward 20 (Osgoode) to be vacant at the March 26, 2025, Council meeting in accordance with Section 262 of the Municipal Act, 2001; and
WHEREAS in accordance with Section 263 of the Municipal Act, 2001, within 60 days after Council declares the Office vacant, City Council shall either appoint a new Member, or pass a by-law requiring a by-election to be held in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (the MEA); and
WHEREAS the Office of the City Clerk is finalizing a by-election delivery model and will establish a detailed schedule for a Ward 20 (Osgoode) by-election in accordance with the MEA; and
WHEREAS to assist residents with day-to-day constituency matters, there are a number of legislative and administrative matters that must be dealt with in a timely manner while the Office of City Councillor for Ward 20 (Osgoode) is vacant; and
WHEREAS various City procedures and processes provide for Ward Councillor approvals, concurrence, and / or comment; and
WHEREAS there will be routine bills to pay from the Ward 20 (Osgoode) Constituency Services Budget and human resources matters relating to the Ward 20 (Osgoode) Office that need to be addressed;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Clerk report back with information on a by-election delivery model in accordance with the MEA to fill the upcoming vacancy in Ward 20 (Osgoode) at the next regular Council meeting on March 26, 2025; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that City Council approve the following interim delegations of authority with respect to Ward 20 (Osgoode) matters, to take effect upon Councillor Darouze’s resignation or deemed resignation, until such time as a new City Councillor is sworn in and takes Office:
That concurrence and approval for Ward 20 (Osgoode) matters, as required, and the provision of Councillor comments on staff reports related to Ward 20 (Osgoode), be provided by Councillor David Brown and Councillor Catherine Kitts; and
That the City Clerk and the Manager of Governance, Elected Officials, and Business Support Services be delegated the interim authority to approve the payment of expenses from the Ward 20 (Osgoode) Office Budget arising from routine matters, and to address human resources matters relating to the Ward 20 (Osgoode) Office; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk advise Council when Councillor Darouze has resigned or deemed to have resigned, and these interim delegations of authority are in effect.