A special Elliot Lake city council meeting is being held tonight to speak with city lawyers about the next step in the town’s mayoral vacancy.
City CAO Daniel Gagnon says on January 9th, Justice Rasaiah determined Chris Patrie had contravened the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, ordered him removed as mayor, and disqualified him from being a member for two years.
Gagnon adds Patrie has indicated that he will appeal the decision but will not seek a stay of the ruling, provided the city does not take any steps to fill the vacancy in the office of the Mayor.
He says legal counsel for Patrie, the Integrity Commissioner, and the city will all be appearing before a judge on February 13th, to seek an order from the court to not only add the City as a party to the application but to also suspend the statutory limitation requiring the council to make a decision on filling the vacancy within 60 days.
The declaration of vacancy of office was made on January 12th.