Mayor Dave Cull confirmed to the Otago Daily Times last night Cr Butcher had applied for a leave of absence on health grounds, and this was likely to be approved subject to a medical certificate being produced.
Cr Butcher had applied for leave after walking out on the new council's first meeting late last month.
She then launched a scathing attack on Mr Cull's committee selections in Saturday's ODT, accusing him of political and gender bias.
Contacted yesterday, Cr Butcher, who recently lost her mother, said she was "going through the grieving process and need some patience and understanding".
Councillors discussed Cr Butcher's future at a non-public part of Monday's extraordinary council meeting.
Mr Cull, when asked if he had spoken to Cr Butcher concerning her request, said he had not.
"I understand she is not comfortable communicating directly."
An email sent to Cr Butcher yesterday was yet to receive a reply, he said.
Council governance manager Sandy Graham confirmed the Local Electoral Act 2001 required a by-election for any vacancy that arose more than 12 months before an election.
