Election Process for the Deputy Mayor- Starting in the 2022 Election

At the January 18, 2021 Council Meeting, staff was directed to receive public input on the various options for electing the Deputy Mayor, starting in the 2022 election.

According to Section 217 of the Municipal Act, in order to enact this change for the 2022 Municipal Election, a by-law would need to be passed for the change in Council composition by January 1, 2022 for the 2022 election. If it is not in effect at that point, it will not take place until the next regular election.

How is the Deputy Mayor elected currently?

Currently there are nine (9) members of Council

• Mayor - elected at large;

• Four (4) councillors elected at-large

• Four (4) councillors elected from the three wards: (2) being elected from Ward 1, and one (1) each from Ward 2 and Ward 3.

The Councillor elected at large with the greatest number of votes becomes Deputy Mayor.

*”Elected at large” means that the councillors represent the entire municipality and all eligible electors in all three wards in the Municipality of Kincardine Municipal can cast a ballot for this position.

What is the Role of the Deputy Mayor?

The following is a listing of the formal and informal duties that make up the role of the Deputy Mayor.

1. Municipal Act, 2001- does not require Municipalities to have a Deputy Mayor and therefore there is no specific role outlined in the legislation for that position. The Deputy Mayor is required to fill their normal duties as a member of council under Section 224 of the Act. This includes:

a. to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality;

b. to develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality;

c. to determine which services the municipality provides;

d. to ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council;

d.1. to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of the municipality;

e. to maintain the financial integrity of the municipality; and

f. carry out the duties of council under this or any other Act.

2. Municipality of Kincardine Procedure By-law–Section A2.5.4 states that “In the absence of the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor shall assume the responsibilities, and have the powers of the Mayor under this by-law”. This includes chairing Council meetings.

3. Bruce County Council– The Deputy Mayor has been the alternate in the absence of the Mayor at Bruce County Council meetings.

4. Represent the Municipality at official functions as assigned by the Mayor.

5. Meet with the Mayor and CAO as neededregarding policy matters.

6. Signatory for Municipal documents in the Mayor’s absence.

7. Striking Committee Member – the Deputy Mayor is a member of the Striking Committee by order of their position.

What other options are there?

Staff did a survey of Municipalities across Ontario to determine how their deputy Mayor is chosen. The most common were:

Vote at-Large– in this option there may be multiple candidates for Deputy Mayor but only the one with the most votes will be elected to Council. This would change the composition of Council to

a. Mayor - elected at-large

b. Deputy Mayor - elected at-large

c. Three (3) councillors - elected at-large

d. Four (4) councillors elected from the three wards: (2) being elected from Ward 1, and one (1) each from Ward 2 and Ward 3

This option would still provide for 5 members voted at large and 4 members voted by ward. There would be no financial impact.

Selected by Council from amongst its Members– this would see Council electing the Deputy Mayor from amongst all the elected members allowing members representing a Ward to be selected as Deputy Mayor. The composition would change to

a. Mayor - elected at-large

b. Four (4) councillors - elected at large

c. Four (4) councillors - elected from the three wards: (2) being elected from Ward 1, and one (1) each from Ward 2 and Ward 3

This option would still provide for 5 members voted at large and 4 members voted by ward. There would be no financial impact.

Rotational Basis– fulfilled by assignment to Councillors on a rotational basis. The composition would be as per below and each of the 8 members would serve approximately 6 months in a four-year term as Deputy Mayor.

a. Mayor elected at-large

b. Four (4) councillors elected at large

c. Four (4) councillors elected from the three wards: (2) being elected from Ward 1, and one (1) each from Ward 2 and Ward 3

This option would still provide for 5 members voted at large and 4 members voted by ward. There could be a financial saving if the Council decided to eliminate the Deputy Mayor Annual salary.

Status Quo –this option would see no change in the current system. The composition would be as per below.

a. Mayor elected at large;

b. Four (4) councillors elected at-large, the one with the most votes being Deputy Mayor;

c. Four (4) councillors elected from the three wards: (2) being elected from Ward 1, and one (1) each from Ward 2 and Ward 3.