Did we need a by-election?

Some people are asking if we could have avoided a by-election by staying with five councillors instead of six.
Municipal elections are governed by the Local Government Act. The Act lays out the guidelines for elections and by-elections.
In brief, if a councillor resigns in the year of an election a by-election does not have to be held.
If a councillor resigns prior to this, a by-election must held, unless the councillor request a
 leave of absence ( usually unpaid) until the election year. If this leave is approved by council then no election is held.
Consequently if not approved an election must be held.
The key is the councillor must request the leave and not just resign.
In the last provincial election, two council members and one mayor were elected to the Provincial Legislature.
Two asked for leaves of absence and one offered to pay for the cost of an election.