Surrey Councillor Mary Martin is on leave to deal with a health issue.
“There really isn’t a lot that I would share other than to say she’s taking time off to deal with a health issue on the advise of her doctor,” Mayor Linda Hepner told the Now.
At this point, Martin’s leave has been approved by Surrey City Council until July, Hepner added.
“We were certainly amenable to shouldering her responsibilities,” Hepner said. “It triggered some changes in her committee responsibilities and in her responsibilities at the Metro level but we will be picking up those duties.”
Councillor Tom Gill has been appointed to take on her regional committee work, and councillors Vera LeFranc and Mike Starchuk will deal with her local portfolio, said the Mayor.
Martin’s absence won’t trigger a by-election, said Hepner, because “we still have the ability to work in terms of ensuring the majority of council members” are present for meetings.
As per B.C. law, “an elected official absent from meetings for 60 consecutive days or four consecutive regularly scheduled council or board meetings (whichever is longer) may be disqualified from office. This does not apply when the elected official has been absent because of illness or injury, or when the council or regional district board has given the individual permission to be absent.”
“She’s anxious to stay advised,” Hepner added. “I will be staying in touch.”
Surrey spokesman Oliver Lum said Martin’s leave is with pay.
“Her leave is being treated like any other city employee who takes leave due to health issues,” he added.
