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AGENDA - Special Council - 20080428r � r SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING NO, 08-13 MONDAY, APRIL 28, 2008 1:00 PAR COUNCIL CHAMBERS AURORA TOWN HALL PUBLIC RELEASE 25/04/08 TOWN OF AURORA SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA NO. 08-13 Monday, April 28, 2008 7:00 p.m. Council Chambers 1 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 11 APPROVAL OF AGENDA RECOMMENDED: THAT the agenda be approved as presented. III ITEM REQUIRING DISCUSSION IV READING OF BYLAWS RECOMMENDED: THAT the following listed by-law be given 1st, 2nd and 3rd readings, and enacted: 5028-08.0 BEING A BY-LAW to Confirm Actions by Council Resulting From Special Council Meeting 08-13 on April 28, 2008. V ADJOURNMENT .. . Special Council No. 08-13 Monday, April 28, 2008 Page 2 AGENDA ITEMS CS08-019 — Vacancy Office of Councillor RECOMMENDED: THAT Council provide direction on the preferred option. pg. 1 SPECIAL COUNCIL - APRIL 28, 2008 ITEM # i TOWN OF AURORA AURORA COUNCIL REPORT No. CS08-019 SUBJECT: Vacancy Office of Councillor FROM: Bob Panizza, Director of Corporate Services DATE: April 28, 2008 RECOMMENDATIONS THAT Council provide direction on the preferred option. BACKGROUND On Thursday April 24, 2008 Councillor Grace Marsh submitted her resignation from the office of Councillor for the Town of Aurora. As a result, Council needs to proceed to have the vacancy filled. COMMENTS Resignation of a Member of Council The Municipal Act 2007, Section 259 states: "The office of a Memberof Council of municipality becomes vacant if the member, d) resigns from his or her office and the resignation becomes effective under Section 260." Section 260 states: "A Member of. Council of a municipality may resign from office by notice in writing filed with the Clerk of the municipality." As previously mention Councillor Marsh has provided her resignation to the Clerk in writing therefore complying with the provisions of the Act. The Municipal Act further states in Section 262(1), that when the office of a Member of Council becomes vacant under Section 259, Council is then required to declare at its next meeting that the office is vacant. It now becomes incumbent on Council to determine the methodology it wishes to select to fill that vacancy. -1- SPECIAL COUNCIL - APRIL 28, 2008 ITEM # 1.z April 28, 2008 -2- Report No. CS08-019 Filling Vacancies According to the Municipal Act, Section 263 (1) Council must select one of the following options: a) fill the vacancy by appointing a person who has consented to accept the office if appointed; or b) require a by-election to be held to fill the vacancy in accordance with the Municipal Elections Act 1996. If it is Council's desire to fill the vacancy through an appointment, there are a number of options that may be considered and discussed in order to proceed in this fashion. Alternatively, should Council decide to proceed with a by-election to fill the vacancy, then the provisions of the Municipal Elections Act will apply. According to the Municipal Elections Act Section 65 (4): If a by-election is to be held for an office, the following rules apply. 1. The Clerk shall affix the date of Nomination Day, to be a day not more than 60 days after, b) the Council of the Clerk's municipality passes a by-law indicating a by-election is required. 3. Voting day shall be 45 days after Nomination Day Tosummarize, Council is required firstly to declare a vacancy on Council as a result of the resignation of Councillor Marsh. Secondly should Council decide to proceed with a by- election, it is necessary that a by-law be enacted to proclaim that a by-election be held. The Clerk will then determine when Nomination Day will be held which may be anytime up to 60 days following the enactment of the by-law, and By -Election Day will be 45 days following Nomination Day. OPTIONS As previously noted, in accordance with the Municipal Act Council may choose one of the following options: 1. Fill the vacancy on Council by appointing a person who has consented to accept the office; or 2. Fill the vacancy through a by-election. -2- SPECIAL COUNCIL - APRIL 28, 2008 ITEM # 1 - 3 April 28, 2008 - 3 - Report No. CS08-019 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 1. If Council chooses to appoint a member to Council, the costs associated with this would be minimal. 2. Should Council decide to proceed with a by-election, it is estimated that the costs would be approximately $35,000 to $40,000. Although the scale of the election would be considerably smaller than a regular election, the fact•that the office of Councillor is elected at large in the Town, necessary arrangements would be. required to accommodate all the voters in Town to vote on By-election Day at various locations. In addition there are costs associated with printing (voter cards), postage, advertising and recruitment of staff for election day. Funding for this can be provided though the election capital reserve that has sufficient funding for this undertaking. LINK TO STRATEGIC PLAN Goal D — Ensure transparent, accountable and open governance in concert with informed and involved citizens. Objective D3: Be accountable and transparent to residents by ensuring open and accessible information flow and accessible decision making. ATTACHMENTS Appendix #1 — Letter of resignation from Councillor Marsh Appendix #2 Draft by-law PRE -SUBMISSION REVIEW CAO Review — April 24, 2008 Prepared by: Bob Panizza ext. 4221 . at� Bob Panizza Director of Corporate. Services John S. Rogers C. A. O. -3- SPECIAL COUNCIL - APRIL 28, 2008 ITEM # 1 -4 Grace L. Marsh 141 Spruce Street Aurora, ON VG 8116 April 24, 2008 Mr. Panizza, Town Clerk Town of Aurora i Municipal Drive Aurora, ON Dear Bob: APPENDIX #1 Hand Delivered This letter is my resignation as Councillor for the Town of Aurora, effective immediately. you. APR 2 4 2008 Corporate. Services Dept. -4- SPECIAL COUNCIL - APRIL 28,2008 ITEM APPENDIX 2 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AURORA 11 By-law Number 5027-OB.0 BEING A BY-LAW to Provide for a By-election for the Office of Councillor. WHEREAS THERE IS A VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR FOR THE TOWN OF AURORA; AND WHEREAS SECTION 263 OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT ALLOWS A COUNCIL TO REQUIRE A BY-ELECTION TO BE HELD TO FILL A VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF A MEMBER OF COUNCIL; NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AURORA HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. THAT a By-election be held to fill the vacancy in the Office of Councillor; 2. AND THAT the Clerk proceed to conduct the By-election in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Elections Act. READ A FIRST AND SECOND TIME THIS 28th DAY OF APRIL, 2008. READ A THIRD TIME AND FINALL Y PASSED THIS 28th DAY OF APRIL, 2008. PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR B. PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK -5- SPECIAL OOUNCI4 - APRIL 28, 2008 By4w - 1 THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AURORA By-law Number 5028-08.0 BEING A BY-LAW to Confirm Actions by Council Resulting From Special Council. Meeting 08-13 on Aprll 28 2008. NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AURORA HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: 1. THAT the actions of the Council at its Special Council meeting held on April 28, 2008 in respect to each motion, resolution and other action passed and taken by the Council at the said meeting is, except where prior approval of the Ontario Municipal Board is required, hereby adopted ratified and confirmed, 2. THAT the Mayor and the proper officers of the Town are hereby authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to the said action or to obtain approvals where required and to execute all documents as may be necessary in that behalf and the Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to affix the corporate seal to all such documents. READ A FIRST AND SECOND TIME THIS 28ry DAYOF APRIL, 200& READ A THIRD TIME AND FINALLY PASSED THIS 28TH DAY OF APRIL, 2008. PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR -6- B. PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK ADDITIONAL ITEMS TABLED FOR COUNCIL MEETING Tuesday, April 28, 2008 ➢ 2006 Municipal Election Official Results ➢ Draft By-law to Appoint a Person to fill the Vacancy for the Office of Councillor. ➢ Letters regarding the process for selection of a new Councillor: • Greg Way - Simmons Crescent, Aurora • Alex Ansell., Resident E A, 2006 Municipal Elections Official Results For the Office of Councillor Rome- Yates - Bob McROBERTS 7361 10.64 % Evelina MacEACHERN 5426 7.77 Wendy GAERTNER 4896 7.01 % Stephen GRANGER 4611 6.6 % Grace L. MARSH 4441 6.36 % Alison M. COLLINS-MRAKAS 4133 5.92 % Evelyn BUCK 4089 5.85 % Al WILSON 3806 6.45 % John GALLO 3496 5 % Eric McCARTNEY 3384 4.84 % Norm WELLER 3328 4.76 % Bryan MOIR 3298 4.72 % Aime MARTIN 2934 4.2 % Glyn JONES 2892 4.14 % Alan DEAN 2780 3.98 % Keith MUNRO 2348 3.36 % Michael THOMPSON 2250 3.22 % Stan RYCOMBEL 1723 2.47 % Kam Q. SADIQ 1426 2.04 % Miloslav PRIKRYL 1239 1.77 % Total: 69861 100% * Elected Candidates in Bold e'\ ^ n°{ 9pr THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AURORA 0 By-law Number -08.0 BEING A BY-LAW to Appoint a Person to fill the Vacancy for the Office of Councillor. WHEREAS THERE IS A VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR FOR THE TOWN OF AURORA; AND WHEREAS SECTION 263 OF THE MUNICIPAL ACT ALLOWS A COUNCIL TO APPOINT A PERSON TO FILL A VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF A MEMBER OF COUNCIL; NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF AURORA HEREBY ENACTS AS FOLLOWS: 2. THAT be appointed to fill the vacancy in the Office of 'Councillor; AND THAT on May 13, 2008. be sworn into office at the next Council meeting READ A FIRST AND SECOND TIME THIS 28th DAY OF APRIL, 2008. READ A THIRD TIME AND FINALLY PASSED THIS 28th DAY OF APRIL, 2008. PHYLLIS M. MORRIS, MAYOR B. PANIZZA, TOWN CLERK Page I of 1 Panizza, Bob From: Greg Way Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 9:36 AM To: Panizza, Bob Subject: By-election Dear Mr. Panizza: As a resident -tax payer in the Town of Aurora, I am writing to you with a serious concern about the process of selecting a new councillor to replace Councillor Marsh. It is very unfortunate that Councillor Marsh felt her only option was to vacate her seat in council, but since there is no chance that she will change her mind, I am writing to remind you that the only truly democratic way to choose her successor is through a by-election. If the mayor and council truly believe in transparent government and due process, as they claim to, then you must call a by-election so that the tax payers of this town have their due input into who the next councillor will be! This new councillor will inherit a 2 year term, and therefore should be the BEST candidate for the job, at this point. Much has changed since the election in 2006, and as a citizen, I want an opportunity to vote for the person whom I feel is the best qualified for the job. I respect your integrity Mr. Panizza and as the Town Clerk I expect you to do what is best for the citizens of this town. Respectfully Greg Way Simmons Cresc. Aurora L4G 4/28/2008 Panizza, Bob From: Alex S. Ansel) Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 10:52 AM To: Morris, Phyllis; McRoberts, Bob; MacEachern, Evelina; Gaertner, Wendy; Buck, Evelyn; Granger, Stephen; Collins-Mrakas, Alison; Wilson, Al Cc: Panizza, Bob Subject: Council Vacancy Mayor and Members of Council: I have read with concern about the untimely resignation of Grace Marsh with reasons undisclosed at this time. This is an unfortunate incident and it.leaves a large void in the conduct of council activities. 0£ the 3 alternatives outlined in our local paper to fill -this void, I believe the ONLY fair alternative for the population of Aurora is to call a by-election. Ms. Marsh was elected by the people and as there are approximately two and one-half years remaining. in the term of this council, her replacement should also be elected by the people. Alex S. Ansell 1