Legislative History: Adopted August 22, 2017 (By-law No. CPOL.-54-286)
Last Review Date: August 10, 2021
Service Area Lead: City Clerk
1. Policy Statement
1.1 This policy establishes the process for the appointment of a Deputy Mayor to assist the Mayor in carrying out their powers and duties and/or act in the place of the head of Council or other member of Council designated to preside at meetings in the municipality’s procedure by-law when the head of Council or designated member is absent or refuses to act or the office is vacant. This shall include general business continuity in the absence of, or refusal to act by, the Mayor; attendance at meetings/events on behalf of the Mayor; participation/representation on civic committees, local boards, commissions or agencies and other related organizations and assistance with the Operating and Capital budget process through participation on the Audit Committee.
2. Definitions
2.1 Not applicable.
3. Applicability
3.1 This policy applies to all Ward Councillors.
4. The Policy
4.1 General
a) All Ward Councillors shall be eligible to serve as Deputy Mayor.
b) The Deputy Mayor shall be selected by the Mayor, confirmed by a majority vote of the Municipal Council and appointed by by-law.
c) The Mayor shall be solely responsible for determining which of their powers and duties are to be allocated to the Deputy Mayor and may adjust that allocation from time to time at their discretion.
d) There shall be no limit to the number of terms a Member of Council can serve as Deputy Mayor.
e) In the event the head of Council’s seat becomes vacant, as defined in section 259 of the Municipal Act, 2001, that vacancy shall be filled in accordance with section 263 of the Municipal Act, 2001, with the Deputy Mayor to act in the place of the head of Council until such time as the vacant seat is otherwise filled.
4.2 Selection of Deputy Mayor Process
a) The Mayor’s initial selection for Deputy Mayor shall be determined and confirmed at the Inaugural Meeting of Municipal Council, and appointed by by-law.
b) The term of the Deputy Mayor shall last no longer than the Council term during which the Deputy Mayor was selected.
c) The Mayor may, at their discretion, change their selection for Deputy Mayor throughout the course of their term as Mayor, in order to allow the Mayor to effectively draw upon the varied skill sets of Council Members.
d) In the event the Mayor exercises their right under (c) above, any subsequent selection for Deputy Mayor shall be confirmed by Council, and appointed by by-law.