Here are the highlights from the Township of Drummond/North Elmsley Council meeting held Thursday, March 8, 2022.
Local Funding for Provincial Hospitals
Council passed a resolution in support of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Resolution calling on the Province to re-examine its funding methodology for hospitals. Communities are required to fund 10% of their hospital’s capital construction costs, 100% of their equipment costs and long-term financing costs. Although community donors include benevolent individuals, groups, businesses, as well as municipalities, hospitals have been increasing their reliance on municipal funding to fund capital and equipment costs. The fiscal capacity of municipalities to meet its own obligations is already strained and taking on hospital funding takes away resources that should be used for municipal operations.
Delegation of Authority Lame Duck Council
Council passed a by-law to delegation its powers to staff in the event it becomes a “lame duck” council during the 2022 Municipal Elections.
The delegation of power will allow the Clerk Administrator and Deputy Clerk to make hiring/firing decisions and the Clerk Administrator and Treasurer to make financial decisions outside of the current by-law that exceed $50,000 but not greater than $150,000 and to execute an agreement of purchase and sale of property. In cases where a delegated power is exercised, Council will be consulted.
The lame duck calculation is done on Nomination Day and after Election Day. On Nomination Day, a council becomes lame duck when 75% of the current council are not running for re-election. After Election Day, a council becomes lame duck if 75% of the current council is not re-elected.
A lame duck council’s powers has limited powers and cannot
- Hire or remove 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; and
- Making any expenditures or incurring any other liability which exceeds
$50,000.
Upcoming Meetings
- Council Meeting: March 22, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
- Committee of the Whole: March 22, 2022 following the Council meeting
- Official Plan Review Public Meeting April 12, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.