What Windsor's CAO can approve until mid-November

In July, Windsor council gave the CAO extra powers for the lame-duck period: real estate deals over $50,000, grant applications, contract changes up to $1.5M, and improvement and heritage grants up to $2.5M. Fred Francis voted no on grants.

By Kyle L. Stewart | Published Oct. 28, 2026, 3:11 p.m. ET | Windsor, Ontario

Topics: Council and City Hall

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On July 27, 2026, before the election, Windsor city council handed some of its decision-making to the City's chief administrative officer (CAO) for the "lame duck" period. That is the stretch when Ontario's Municipal Act limits what an outgoing council can do, because less than three-quarters of its members will sit on the new one. Unofficial results show Windsor's council is in that situation until the new term starts Nov. 15.

Council passed four decisions that day. Each one applies only if council is determined to be a "lame duck." Windsor News checked each one against the City's minutes of the July 27 meeting.

Real estate (CR371/2026)

The CAO can approve real estate transactions over $50,000 from Aug. 21 to Nov. 15, 2026. Council passed By-law 118-2026 for that purpose.

Grant applications (CR368/2026)

For the sole purpose of applying for grants, the CAO can pre-commit money approved in principle in the City's 10-year capital budget, commit money for later years of that budget, and move money between capital projects to get the most out of grant opportunities. The powers run from Aug. 21 to Nov. 15, 2026.

Any spending tied to a grant can go ahead only after the City has written confirmation that it got the grant. Council is to be told about projects estimated to cost over $1 million. Under By-law 122-2026, the CAO and City Clerk can sign agreements for grants the City is awarded.

Councillor Fred Francis, now mayor-elect, voted against this decision.

Contracts (CR369/2026)

The CAO can approve contract awards, increases, amendments, renewals and extensions, and move money from other capital projects, future budgets or reserve funds to cover them. Each change is capped at 30 per cent of the project's approved capital budget or $1.5 million, whichever is less. Council told staff not to raise the overall 10-year capital budget as a result. These powers run from Aug. 21 to Nov. 16, 2026, unless council extends them.

The same decision also directed the City Treasurer to pre-commit $44,308,373 in funding that had been approved in principle in the 2026 10-year capital budget.

Community improvement and heritage grants (CR374/2026)

The CAO can approve applications to the City's community improvement plan programs, the Community Heritage Fund, the Built Heritage Fund and the Heritage Property Tax Reduction Program, for grants estimated at over $50,000 and up to $2.5 million. The CAO and City Clerk can sign the grant agreements. These powers run from Aug. 21 to Nov. 16, 2026, unless council extends them, under By-law 123-2026.

The votes and the reports

All four decisions carried. The minutes record Councillor Fred Francis voting no on the grant applications decision (CR368/2026) and no votes against the other three.

Council asked for reports in early 2027 listing every time the CAO used the grant application powers and the community improvement and heritage grant powers. For contracts, council asked for a report on all projects affected after the lame duck period ends. The real estate decision does not set a report.

Windsor News will report what those reports show on Council Watch.