New council to be sworn-in Dec. 4, ’18

November 1, 2017 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
The meeting schedule for Caledon council in 2018 is going to be a little on the light side, especially later in the year.
Councillors have approved their meeting schedule for the coming year, although the staff report accompanying the proposals stated the dates of meeting are subject to change, if necessary.
Council has been operating on a modified scheduling system for the last year, with one Tuesday per month being set aside for general committee and planning committee meetings, and another Tuesday per month being designated for council.
The current plan is for committees to meet Jan. 16, Feb. 6, March 6, April 3, May 1, May 29, June 26 and Dec. 11. Actual council meetings are planned for Jan. 30, Feb. 20, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 5, July 10 and Dec. 18.
The fact that 2018 is going to be an election year has had an impact on the scheduling process, according to staff.
The election is scheduled for Oct. 22, and the report stated there are provisions in the Municipal Act that restrict what councils can do after Nomination Day, which will be July 27, as well as after election day. Known as the “lame duck” period, it applies if less than three-quarters of the sitting members of council do not declare their intentions to run by Nomination Day, or if less than three-quarters of the sitting council is returned election day.
During a lame duck period, councils cannot appoint or remove any officer of the municipality, hire or fire any municipal employee, get rid of any municipal property valued at more than $50,000, or make any spending decision involving more than $50,000.
The staff report stated the Town’s CAO has the authority to act in some of these cases, if necessary.
In the event there is not a lame duck period, the proposed schedule sets aside “hold dates” for possible meetings. They are Aug. 7, Aug. 28, Sept. 11 and Sept. 25.
After the election, the new council will be sworn in Dec. 4.