Following up on the Strong Mayor Powers used by Mayor Meed Ward

By Pepper Parr

December 16th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

On July 1st of this year the province gave many Mayors the right to use what were called Strong Mayor powers.

A Mayor does not have to use these powers, which are pretty blunt.  To date Mayor Meed Ward has used the powers on 13 occasions. Numbers 4 to 8 are set out below.  Numbers 1 to 3 were published earlier – a link to them is set out below.  Four, five and six have the Mayor passing the bylaws – this is what a City Council does, with Strong Mayor powers a Mayor  can declare a bylaw is passed – the one proviso is that the Mayor must inform the public in writing.

The two decisions that raise concerns are seven and eight.  They turn the Standing Committee structure the city had on its head.

For those involved in what takes place at city hall – pay attention.

Decision # 4

Mayoral decision

Under Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, which amended the Municipal Act, 2001, I Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor of the City of Burlington, hereby approve the following by-laws passed at the Burlington City Council meeting of September 26, 2023 in accordance with subsection 284.11(4)(a)(i) of the Municipal Act, 2001:

• All by-laws enacted under Motion to Approve By-laws (Council Agenda item 21)
• Confirmation By-law (Council Agenda Item 22)

Dated at Burlington, this 26th day of September 2023.

Decision # 5

Mayoral decision
Under Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, which amended the Municipal Act, 2001,
I Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor of the City of Burlington, hereby approve the following by-laws passed at the Burlington City Council meeting of October 5, 2023 in accordance
with subsection 284.11(4)(a)(i) of the Municipal Act, 2001:
• All by-laws enacted under Motion to Approve By-laws (NA)
• Confirmation By-law (Council Agenda Item #9)
Dated at Burlington, this 5th day of October 2023.

Decision # 6

Mayoral decision
Under Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, which amended the Municipal Act, 2001,
I Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor of the City of Burlington, hereby approve the following by-laws passed at the Burlington City Council meeting of October 17, 2023 in
accordance with subsection 284.11(4)(a)(i) of the Municipal Act, 2001:
• All by-laws enacted under Motion to Approve By-laws (Council Agenda item #21)
• Confirmation By-law (Council Agenda Item #22)
Dated at Burlington, this 17th day of October 2023.

Decision # 7

Mayoral decision
Under Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, which amended the Municipal Act, 2001,
Effective January 1, 2024, in accordance with subsection 226.6 of the Act, I Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor of the City of Burlington, hereby dissolve the following standing
committees as prescribed in the City’s Procedure By-law no. 31 -2021, as amended:
• Committee of the Whole
• Community Planning , Regulation & Mobility Committee
• Environment, Infrastructure & Community Services Committee
• Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk & Accountability Committee; and

Effective January 1, 2024, in accordance with subsection 226.6 of the Act, I Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor of the City of Burlington, hereby establish a Committee of the Whole
and Budget Committee with functions assigned as follows:

Committee of the Whole
I. Responsibilities
The Committee of the Whole shall be responsible for considering all matters that do not properly fall under the jurisdiction of any other existing Standing
Committees. The Committee of the Whole agendas are divided into the following sections, with a Chair and Vice Chair assigned to each section:

Community Planning, Regulation & Mobility
The Community Planning, Regulation & Mobility section will include matters relating to:

a) Matters under the jurisdiction of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility including; Community Planning, Building, By-law Compliance, Transit, and Transportation departments;

b) Public hearings pursuant to the Planning Act, RSO 1990, c. P.13, as amended;

c) Matters arising from the following boards and advisory committees:

Aldershot BIA
Burlington Chamber of Commerce
Burlington Downtown Business Association
Burlington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC)
Committee of Adjustment
Heritage Burlington Advisory Committee
Integrated Transportation Advisory Committee (ITAC)
Burlington Cycling Advisory Committee
Burlington Agricultural and Rural Affairs Advisory Committee (BARAAC)
Downtown Parking Advisory Committee
Property Standards Committee

Environment, Infrastructure & Community Services
The Environment, Infrastructure & Community Services section will include matters relating to:

a) Matters under the jurisdiction of the Environment, Infrastructure and
Community Services including; Engineering Services, Recreation,
Community and Culture, Roads, Parks & Forestry, and Fire, Assets and
Sustainability departments;

b) Matters arising from the following boards, committees and advisory committees:

Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee (BMC)
Burlington Sustainable Development Committee (SOC)
Art Gallery of Burlington Board (AGB)
Burlington Mundialization Committee
Burlington Museums Board
Burlington Performing Arts Centre
Burlington Public Library Board (BPL)
Burlington Seniors’ Advisory Committee {BSAC)
Tourism Burlington

Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk & Accountability
The Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk & Accountability section will include matters relating to:

a) Matters under the jurisdiction of the City Manager’s Office, Office of the City Clerk, Corporate Communications and Engagement, Strategy, Risk
and Accountability, Customer Experience, Finance, Human Resources, Burlington Digital Services, and Corporate Legal Services departments;

b) All public meetings under the Development Charges Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c. 27;

c) Burlington Strategic Plan and Vision to Focus workplan;

d) Matters arising from the following board and advisory committee:

Burlington Hydro Electric Inc. (SHEi)
Burlington lnclusivity Advisory Committee (BIAC)

II. Composition
The Committee of the Whole shall be comprised of all members of Council.

Ill. Reporting
The Committee of the Whole reports directly to Council.

Budget Committee
I. Responsibilities
The Budget Committee is responsible for hearing public presentations, receiving financial reports from staff, and providing advice to the Mayor on the operating
and capital budgets; and making recommendations to Council on any operating or capital budgets in which the Mayor has a pecuniary interest.

II. Composition
The Budget Committee shall be comprised of all members of Council.

Ill. Reporting
The Budget Committee reports directly to Council.
Dated at Burlington, this 31st day of October 2023.

Decision # 8

Mayoral decision
References: MO-03-22 – Appointments to standing committees, boards , committees, agencies and Deputy Mayors , December 13, 2022 *with changes CL-18-23 – Standing Committee Structure Options, October 17, 2023 Mayoral Decision 07-23 – To establish a Committee of the Whole and Budget Committee

Under Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, which amended the Municipal Act, 2001 (the Act); and Effective January 1, 2024, in accordance with subsection 226.6 of the Act, I Marianne Meed Ward, Mayor of the City of Burlington, hereby appoint the following Councillors as rotating chairs of Committee of the Whole and Budget Committee for remainder of the 2022-2026 Term of Council as established by report MO-03-22: ** Chair changes are bolded, they align the Deputy Mayor of Strategy and Budgets portfolio to the Chair of Budget, with subsequent position changes to ensure equity.

Committee of the Whole
The Mayor shall preside as the Chair for Committee of the Whole for all agenda sections, with rotating Councillors appointed as section chairs and section vice chairs for
Community Planning, Regulation & Mobility Environment, Infrastructure & Community Services and Corporate Services, Strategy , Risk & Accountability regular items.
Committee of the Whole – Community Planning Regulation & Mobility

Committee of the Whole – Corporate Services Strategy Risk & Accountability Regular Agenda

Budget Committee

Dated at Burlington, this 31st day of October 2023.

 

Relayed news story:
First three Strong Mayor decisions