LAURIE WEIR

The Rideau Lakes Municipal Services Committee has opted for a by-election to fill the vacant seat left by Joan Delaney following her resignation on March 4.

During the regular committee meeting on March 10, council was without Mayor Arie Hoogenboom, who announced his departure from the municipal table earlier that day.

Coun. Deborah Anne Hutchings acted as chair, as Deputy Mayor Paula Banks and Coun. Jeff Banks attended remotely. Coun. Ron Pollard was absent with prior notice. 

With the township’s clerk on vacation, Chief Administrative Officer Shellee Fournier said she could have the clerk bring forward the required information to decide which way they would fill the seat to the next council meeting on April 7 — to move forward with a by-election process, or with an appointment.

Coun. Sue Dunfield suggested an accelerated timeline, proposing the process begin at the April 7 meeting rather than waiting until May.

“I’d like to give staff direction so this process can begin on April 7 rather than waiting until May 5,” Dunfield said. “We haven’t got a lot of time left in this term of council, so I think the sooner we can fill this seat, the better for the people of South Crosby.”

All councillors agreed to hold a by-election rather than appoint a new councillor, following the precedent set when filling the last vacancy in 2023. After the death of Cathy Livingston in 2022, shortly after the municipal election, the council chose a by-election, which Paula Banks won for Ward 1.

The motion was unanimously passed and will be rubber stamped at the next council meeting – or as suggested by the CAO, they can hold a special meeting if necessary to hit the target date. Only Coun. Jeff Banks said he’d support an appointment – or a by-election. “Whatever is the majority,” he said. “Either way works for me.”

The cost of the by-election is expected to be about $13,000, with a new councillor likely to be in place by the summer.