Deputy Mayors to take part in a workshop this week to discuss just what the job description is

By Pepper Parr

February 19th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

There are two meetings that will take place in the next 90 days that will, or should, have a significant change on the way Council operates.

Later this week, on the 23rd, there is a workshop on the role of the newly minted Deputy Mayors. They are in place, but it isn’t really clear yet as to just what they are supposed to do.

Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith – Deputy Mayor for Business & Red Tape Reduction
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns – Deputy Mayor for Community Engagement & Partnerships.
Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan – Deputy Mayor for the Environment
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte – Deputy Mayor for Housing
Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman – Deputy Mayor for Strategy & Budgets Sharman
Ward 6 Councillor Angelo Bentivegna – Deputy Mayor for Recreation and Community Services.

This picture of Council in session was taken before Councillor Nisan returned to the Chamber. He had chosen to stay away from city hall during the pandemic. He wears a mask when he attends meetings.

A couple of unknowns:  Did members of Council have new business cards printed with the additional title?  And will the title appear on their election signs next time out ?

Mayor Meed Ward set out what the job meant at a Council meeting during which she elaborated on the strengths each council member brought the assignment she had given them.

Sometime in April Council will take a hard look at the Procedural bylaw that governs how council is to proceed and what as members of Council they can and cannot do.

They tend get tangled up at time with the procedures that are in place.

The April meeting is an opportunity for citizens who are well informed and know quite a bit about procedure to do their thinking and to delegate at the meeting.

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5 comments to Deputy Mayors to take part in a workshop this week to discuss just what the job description is

  • Eve St Clair

    What an absolute farce!!!! What’s the purpose of a senior management team when a ” deputy Mayor : does the same thing …… Toronto only has 4 DM’s while Burlington has 6. Do better MMW

  • Perryb

    Maybe they should open with Galbraith who can apply some red tape reduction.

  • Lynn Crosby

    Gee I just commented a few days ago elsewhere here on the laughable “Deputy Mayor Titles for Everyone” and now it’s morphed into a workshop as well! Yup, as I said then, in my opinion, it is all about the next election and the fact incumbents will be putting their mayor titles on their literature and calling themselves deputy MAYOR every chance they get between now and then. Shall we make it a drinking game? Psst: you’re councillors.

    Also I suppose that those with portfolios which are less likely to be successful based on things outside of the individual’s sole control (perhaps even hindered by others), can then be blamed for the failure while others take cover? And those with portfolios where it’s easier to claim success – Environment for example – get another advantage. Let me look up who got that one … oh right!

    And now they are spending time when they could be working for us having a workshop on it. Can you just get down to business and stop this embarrassing silliness. I know it will create 175 social media bragging posts but just stop.

  • George Armstrong Custer

    With all due respect to ‘the Mayor’ and her deputies, I think the key question here is ‘who will lead the workshop’? Will it be Meed Ward disclosing what she has in mind, or Tim Commisso contributing his extensive municipal experience to a structure that is still a little soft around the edges? Will the Councillors be detailing what they understand the job to be or what they would like it to be (sorry Rory there will almost surely be work involved)? What was the rationale behind the creation of these rather grand sounding portfolios? Surely, there must be a leader and hopefully it will be one who is able to properly assess strengths, weaknesses and threats. Looking forward to seeing what lies beyond this particular hill.