Mayor gets her first crack at using her Strong Mayor powers - never forget that power reveals

By Pepper Parr

October 2nd, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

On June 26, 2023, by way of motion memorandum, Council resolved to review the standing committee structure. A direction was provided to the City Clerk to review the system, to streamline the decision-making process, and establish a revised system in advance of presenting the annual calendar of meetings report.

On July 1, 2023, Bill 3, the Strong Mayors, Building Homes Act, 2022, by way of O. Reg. 180/23 was extended to the City of Burlington. That gave Mayor Meed Ward Strong Mayor Powers, something she said she never wanted – but – now that she has them- she is ready to use them.

The Regulation states that: “With respect to committees, a Mayor may create committees of Council, assign their functions and appoint their Chairs and Vice Chairs”.

City Clerk Kevin Arjoon points out that: “As there are no regulations that provide additional context, this ability applies to committees of Council comprised solely of members of Council. Any changes require a mayoral decision.

“The purpose of bringing the proposed new committee structure to Committee and Council is to close out the outstanding staff direction to the Office of the City Clerk and solicit feedback and recommendations from Committee and Council prior to any changes being made.

“Mayor Meed Ward has worked with the Office of the City Clerk to scope an alternate committee system which is intended to help streamline Council business. In presenting this report, staff are fulfilling and affording Council time to review and reflect on what is proposed.

Mayor Meed Ward has has Strong Mayor Powers since July 1st, She is expected to exercise those powers at a Standing Committee on October 4th. The rules setting out what she can and cannot do are set out in a 27 page document. And bet your bippy that she has read and re-read every page.

The Mayor intends to review the feedback received from Council members at CSSRA on October 4, and issue a Mayoral decision outlining the new system, in keeping with Bill 3 requirements.

The proposed new committee system is as follows:

• Audit Committee – No change
• Council Workshop – No change
• CSSRA Budget – to be renamed Budget Committee
• CPRM – Public Meeting – No change

The balance of Standing Committee work will be directed to a Committee of the Whole.

The Committee of the Whole will be comprised of distinct sections. The meeting will be opened by the Mayor, who will start the meeting, oversee any delegations, and complete all consent items (includes pulled matters), and then will pass the gavel to Chairs (appointed Council members) who will chair segments of the meeting.

• Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability (which includes the City Manager’s Office)
• Community Planning Regulation and Mobility.

• Environment Infrastructure and Community Services

The Mayor would then chair the final portions of the meeting, including Closed Session, through to adjournment. The Chair/Vice Chair rotations for the distinct sections remain as established under the Mayor’s appointments report MO-03-22, at this time no changes are proposed.

Strategy/process/risk
“The outcome sought is to solicit feedback from Council on a proposed new Standing Committee structure intended to streamline the decision-making process, provide more predictability for staff, Council and the public about meetings and where items are considered.
It is anticipated that while increasing efficiency, opportunities for engagement and participation with be maintained or enhanced.

“For the current standing committee structure, committee week consists of three full days, however it has become common to cancel or to combine meetings due to a lack of items of business.

“This practice frees up time for Council, but it also contributes to a disruption in the cadence in which we conduct our business. When meetings are combined or cancelled, it may lead to public confusion, and require additional communications support to clarify the changes of an adapted meeting schedule.

“In stacking standing committee business into one Committee of the Whole over two days, the meeting is recessed from one day to the next. Compressing committee business into two-days will help to release a full day of business, and may help in scheduling all related meetings (Council Workshop/Audit) into one full week.”

Little did the six know that the seventh would be able to make decisions without input from them. Mayor Meed Ward now has and is going to use her Strong Mayor Powers

At the October 4, 2023 meeting members of Committee could advocate to keep the committee structure as is or make changes to the proposed model. All feedback received by the Mayor will be considered when determining their final decision.

Realize that all members of Council can do is recommend – the Mayor can accept or decline any recommendation

“This report is provided to committee for discussion purposes. All discussion provided at this meeting will be received by the Mayor. The input gathered may be incorporated into a final decision rendered on a new standing committee structure for the City of Burlington.”