Mayor Peter Kelly is not in attendance at Halifax City Hall today.

Deputy Mayor Bill Karsten is presiding over the meeting, which includes a budget overview, an update on the transit strike, and the Skye Halifax matter.

Karsten told reporters that he received an e-mail from Kelly’s office at 10:45 a.m. indicating the mayor had a scheduling conflict. He said his understanding is that Kelly had “outside meetings.”

Over the last week, Kelly has been dogged by reporters concerning a report in The Coast, a local alt-weekly, which reported Kelly has spent the last seven years as executor of a Halifax woman’s will.

According to that paper, several of Mary Thibeault’s heirs have not received their due in the seven years Kelly has been executor of her will.

Kelly has denied interviews on the matter, stating it’s a private issue. He directed media inquiries to his lawyer, Harry Thompson, who has been out of the province since the story broke.

Metro has requested an interview with the mayor.