Fonds RG 1 - City of Vaughan Council fonds (RG 1)

In 1850, as a consequence of the Robert Baldwin Act of 1849, the Vaughan Township Council came into being as a corporate entity. The legislation provided for the election of four Councillors and a Reeve with power to appoint officers, supervise statute labour, levy local taxes and borrow certain moneys. A Deputy-Reeve(s) was appointed from the members of Council. The Vaughan Township Council bore responsibility for all aspects of local government and administration in the Township. Council consisted of 4 Councillors and a Reeve. The Reeve was the Head of Council and was elected by his fellow Councillors. As was the case for the entire Council, the office holder was required to live within a two mile radius of the municipality and possess the right to a legal or equitable freehold of $400.00 or a leasehold of $800.00. The duties of the Reeve included presiding as head of Council at all of the monthly Council meetings, and, in conjunction with the other council members, initiating and establishing the rules and regulations for the government of the municipality and reviewing the conduct of all officers in the employ of the municipality. The Reeve was also tasked with recommending to council ways and means of improving local finance, health, security, comfort and the aesthetic quality of the Township. Additionally, the incumbent served as the municipality’s Justice of the Peace and was a member of the Vaughan Township Board of Health. Deputy Reeves were elected by Council with their number proportional to the area’s population. Their responsibilities varied only marginally from those of Councillor’s -- the chief differentiating factor being that a Deputy Reeve served as a Reeve in the latter’s absence. Individual Councillors were elected by the constituents of their respective Wards. Council ultimately bore responsibility for all aspects of municipal governments as indicated earlier. Elections were held annually between 1850-1957, when two-year terms were introduced. This system was in place up until 1970. The structure of Council changed in 1971 with the advent of regional government and the ascension of Vaughan Township to the status of a Town. From 1971-1988, Council consisted of 4 Local Councillors, 1 Local and Regional Councillor and a Mayor. As of 1989, the roster was increased to 2 Regional representatives. Council retained this latter structure as Vaughan attained City status in 1991. This structure has been maintained during the time-frame encompassed by the fonds.