By Pepper Parr
April 17th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
Councillor was pleased to serve with the Speakers Series the Mayor had sponsored.
When the Mayor’s Speaker series was being debated at a Council meeting earlier she was given a rough ride.
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte loved the idea saying the first speaker Jennifer Keesmatt, former City of Toronto was a good fit for the first speaker in the planned two speakers each year.
Several days later Councillor Stolte had a change of heart and said she was withdrawing her endorsement of the Speaker series .
Stolte issued a statement to “clarify the facts in case there is any confusion regarding the discontinuation of my involvement with the Mayors event.
“Originally, in my role as Deputy Mayor of Housing for the City of Burlington, I had begun the planning process for a 2024 City Wide Housing Symposium as well as a “ward by ward” series of Housing Information Meetings with a focus of addressing the housing supply and affordability crisis in Burlington.
“The Mayor then decided to choose this model and subject as the first of her Mayors Speakers Series in May, so I agreed to join in the planning process in an effort to collaborate on the event.
Ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte did a superb job pressing the Mayor to tell Council when she was going to let them know what her response was going to be to the request that she relinquish her Strong Mayor powers. Stolte did get a date – Meed Ward published her decision that was posted on her web site. Councillor Stolte seems to be conflicted with on just how supportive she is of the Mayor.
“After deep consideration, I have concluded that Mayor Meed Ward and I have fundamental differences in how we choose to communicate critical information with the public and I have decided to resign my participation in the Mayor’s Speakers Series and resume my focus, time and efforts on planning for these smaller, interactive “ward by ward” resident meetings across the City.
“In an effort to connect with and ensure all Burlington residents’ concerns can be heard, I encourage the residents of Burlington to stay up to date on their Ward Councillor monthly newsletters for the dates and times of these upcoming Housing Information Meetings.”
City Council is getting to be a very uncomfortable place to work.
Is anyone surprised that the Mayor would jump on a good idea and then make it her own, only bigger. Imagine all the photo-ops.
This is not the first time the Mayor has done this.
I totally agree with Councillor Stolte that” smaller, interactive ward by ward resident meetings” are the way to go,
ECoB adopted this model for the previous election campaign( not the 2022 campaign) and it was very successful. We had hundreds of residents turn out in all of the 7 sessions.
Can’t imagine how this council will be able to work together. When trust is gone it rarely returns.