Tecumseh council's Chene St. tribunal direction came in a closed session, with no recorded vote
Tecumseh council's direction not to attend the Chene St. tribunal hearing came in a closed session with no recorded vote, the Town told Windsor News. Minutes show the May 12 closed session, three weeks before the June 3 hearing.
Topics: Council and City Hall
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The Town of Tecumseh says council gave the direction not to attend a June 3 Ontario Land Tribunal hearing on a Chene Street townhouse split during a closed session, and that there was no recorded vote.
What the Town said
On Oct. 28, Amanda Circelli, the Town's manager of customer service, told Windsor News by email that the direction was given in a closed session held under section 239(2)(e) of the Municipal Act. That section lets a council close a meeting to discuss litigation or potential litigation, including matters before administrative tribunals, affecting the municipality. Asked whether there was a recorded vote, she said no. She did not give the date of the meeting.
What the minutes say
The minutes of council's May 12, 2026 regular meeting report that a closed meeting was held at 5 p.m. that day under section 239(2)(e), and that "Council gave direction to Administration on an Ontario Land Tribunal matter regarding 137 Chene Street." The minutes do not say what the direction was. Council adopted the minutes on May 26.
The hearing
The tribunal heard the appeal by video on June 3, 2026, three weeks after the closed session. The Town did not attend. In a decision dated Oct. 5, the tribunal overturned the Tecumseh Committee of Adjustment's Jan. 26 refusal and gave provisional consent to split 137 Chene St. into four lots for a four-unit townhouse. Town staff had recommended approval with conditions.
What the record shows
Because there was no recorded vote, the public record does not show how individual council members stood on the direction.
Our first story on the decision, with the tribunal's conditions: Tribunal overturns Tecumseh refusal, approves four-lot townhouse split on Chene Street
