WHEREAS the Province of Ontario has opened up the opportunity for Municipalities to seek “Strong Mayor’s Powers” giving heads of Councils the tools they need to reduce obstacles that can stand in the way of new housing and infrastructure development;
AND WHEREAS the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Rob Flack, stated that the purpose for extending these “Strong Mayor’s Powers was to allow Mayor’s who know their municipalities best, and we support them in a shared provincial-municipal priorities, such as encouraging the approval of new housing and constructing and maintaining infrastructure to support housing;
AND WHEREAS the new Mayor powers and duties include choosing to appoint chief administrative officer (CAO), along with hiring certain municipal department heads, proposing the municipal budgets as well as veto powers on such documents; proposing certain by-laws if the the Mayor is of the opinion that the proposed by-laws could advance provincial priorities consistent with building more homes;
AND WHEREAS the council in the past discussed and voted on the idea of adopting the “Strong Mayor’s Powers” and that vote was unanimously voted down not once but twice, including the public statements made in the past by Mayor Bentley against the idea of these powers;
AND WHEREAS Mayor Bentley has advised the Province of her changed desire to adopt the “Strong Mayor’s Powers” without any public discussion with council and/or a vote against or in support of;
THEREFORE, we are requesting the opportunity to have a fulsome discussion regarding the ‘Strong Mayor’s Powers' allowing for clarity to the real intentions behind the Mayor’s decision;
AND THEREFORE, we ask
- THAT given the information outlined above, any decisions regarding staffing be delegated to Council and these decisions to be voted on separately;
- AND THAT the Mayor gives that power back to the duly elected individuals around the table.