Greater Sudbury city council meetings always open with a moment of silent reflection, but there was special weight to tonight’s meeting opener.
“Let’s take a moment to think of Coun. Vagnini and his family through this challenging and uncertain time,” Mayor Paul Lefebvre told his colleagues prior to the moment of silent reflection.
“I know we all remain hopeful that you will be found safe. The Greater Sudbury Police Service continues to make every effort possible to locate him and bring him home to his family. Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time.”
Lefebvre offered a similar sentiment during the beginning to presentation at this morning’s pre-budget consultation with the provincial Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs at the Radisson Hotel.
Vagnini was reported missing to GSPS on Saturday evening, and neither him nor the truck he was believed to have been driving have been seen since.
Earlier today, GSPS opened a tip line at 705-675-9171 extension 2320, which a media release indicated "will be checked regularly by detectives in our Criminal Investigation Division."
For the latest on Vagnini’s disappearance, click here.
Tuesday’s meeting was among city council’s shortest in recent memory, clocking in at less than 10 minutes.
A presentation by city integrity commissioner David Boghosian was deferred to the third quarter of the year, and a member’s motion by Ward 4 Coun. Pauline Fortin passed without discussion, with both Lefebvre and Fortin noting that it “speaks for itself.”
Her motion seeks information regarding staff overtime detailing the actual versus budgeted overtime hours and costs for each year from 2019 to 2023, along with an explanation.
The report, which city council agreed to have tabled by city staff for their May 22 finance and administration committee meeting, will include both paid and unpaid overtime, instances where overtime is banked and paid out at a later date, or taken as time off.
Quarterly reports with this data will follow.
Overtime has been in Fortin’s sights since 2024-25 budget deliberations in December, when she tabled a motion to have overtime hours reduced by 25 per cent, resulting in a 2024 budget reduction of $703,518.
After some concern was expressed regarding its implications, Fortin withdrew the motion. At the time, she pledged to request further context behind overtime hours, which she followed through on tonight.
Greater Sudbury city council members’ 2023 attendance records were also tabled tonight, with no discussion.
The next city council meeting is scheduled for Feb. 13 beginning at 6 p.m. The next committee meeting will take place on Feb. 12 at 1 p.m., when the planning committee will get together. These meetings can be viewed in-person at Tom Davies Square or livestreamed by clicking here.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
