North Glengarry expected to deal with council vacancy Tuesday night

North Glengarry Township council is expected to deal with its new vacancy on Tuesday, January 17, following tonight's mayoral election.

"Unless the election results are really tight and there is a recall, we should know by then who will be mayor," explained chief administrative officer Daniel Gagnon. "And if you recall, we have a fairly long-winded process of 'next meetings' to deal with vacancies."

Gagnon's comment refers to council's initial appointment of Chris McDonell as mayor and Jamie MacDonald as deputy mayor, which were both declared null and void after a procedural deficiency was discovered in the awarding of those posts.

According to the Municipal Act, council should have waited at least one meeting, following the resignation of former mayor Grant Crack on October 11, to decide on appointing a replacement or going to a by-election. Instead, council made its decision that same evening.

The purpose of the special meeting Tuesday night is to move things forward as quickly as possible, Gagnon suggested.

"If we declare whatever seat vacant on Tuesday night, we will have one of those meetings down and can move on," he said. "Based on lessons learned, all we can do is declare whatever seat vacant Tuesday night and leave it at that. Then, at the regular meeting on January 23, council can decide whether it's an appointment or another election for whatever seat is vacated."

Gagnon added, however, that council may not want to declare a seat vacant if a recount is likely or in the works. If the results are clear, he said "council can comfortably declare whatever seat needed vacant."

Though the meeting was decided upon last week, the 7 p.m. start time means the actual outcome and details of the discussion will not available in time for print publication this week. An update will be posted online.

Council is also expected to address an issue with the North Glengarry Prescott Russell Transit Board that evening. The next council meeting will be Monday, January 23.