A gaggle of political lame ducks will convene Monday at the Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre.
Ontario's Municipal Act never actually uses the term 'lame duck,' but it does provide for restrictions on outgoing politicians with limited time remaining in office.
The idea is to ensure decisions are made by councils that are still accountable to the community, that politicians who aren't seeking re-election are prevented from making unwise decisions that bind those who follow them into public office.
With Mayor Christian Provenzano, Ward 1 Coun. Paul Christian and Ward 4 Coun. Rick Niro all stepping down from city politics, city clerk Rachel Tyczinski confirms to SooToday that our council is now a 'lame duck' subject to prohibitions on:
- the appointment or removal from office of any officer of the municipality
- the hiring or dismissal of any employee of the municipality
- the disposition of any real or personal property of the municipality which has a value exceeding $50,000 at the time of disposal
- making any expenditures or incurring any other liability which exceeds $50,000
These restrictions don't apply to dispositions or liabilities included in the most recent municipal budget.
They also don't prevent municipalities from taking action during emergencies.
The lame duck rules will remain in effect until the current term of office ends on Nov. 14, 2022.
The election occurs on Oct. 24.
SooToday has reviewed the agenda for Monday's lame duck City Council meeting.
We can't see anyone getting hired or fired.
There is a closed-door session planned to allow councillors to discuss disposition of a piece of municipal property of undisclosed value.
We could only spot a total of about $22,500 in unbudgeted expenditures, none more than $7,400.
Next week's City Council meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4.30 p.m. Monday.