Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland is pushing back against claims that the current town council is operating under so-called “lame duck” restrictions.
In a statement issued August 21, Cleveland said he wanted to address what he described as false and inaccurate information circulating on social media and local blogs about council’s status during the municipal election period.
Cleveland said a lame duck council is not automatically triggered by election dates or timelines. Instead, restrictions can take effect depending on how many members of the existing council are seeking re-election and whether at least three-quarters of the outgoing council could potentially return.
“So, to be clear, this current Council is NOT in a ‘Lame Duck’ position and very well may not be for the remainder of this Council term,” Cleveland said.
The mayor also addressed questions surrounding decisions made by council, including a recent vote to establish an Interim Control By-law.
“Votes we have taken, including yesterday’s vote to establish an Interim Control By-law (ICBL), are completely legitimate and are as binding as any undertaken over the previous years of this term of Council,” Cleveland said.
Under Ontario’s Municipal Act, restrictions can be placed on certain council powers during an election period if it becomes mathematically impossible for at least three-quarters of the existing council to return.
Cleveland said council intends to continue carrying out its full responsibilities unless those restrictions are triggered.
“We, as a Council, will continue to discharge our full Council responsibilities accordingly until such time as we improbably fall into a ‘Lame Duck’ situation,” he said.
