Quinte West Council has approved a motion from Councillor Sharpe calling for greater transparency around the use of Strong Mayor Powers.
The motion directs City Clerk Josh Machesney to include all decisions made under Strong Mayor Powers on the next available Council meeting agenda after they are issued. It also “respectfully requests” that the Mayor uphold the spirit of Council governance by consulting with Council before making such decisions.
Councillor Sharpe said she brought the motion forward following a recent Strong Mayor Powers decision to remove Councillor Stedall as Chair of the City’s Personnel Committee and appoint Councillor Alyea to the position.
Councillor Stedall expressed how she felt about the decision.
“When I was removed as the Chair of Personnel, which I thoroughly enjoyed the position and was very transparent in any decisions and any discussions I was having, that had nothing to do with my career and my municipal career, not just with Stirling-Rawdon, I also work with Loyalist Township, and previous to that, I worked with South Frontenac. My municipal career spans 35 years,” she said.
“That was known when I was elected, that was known when I came in, I do not have a conflict. The conversation that happened when I was given notification of this came from the Clerk, not from the Mayor. The Mayor has not spoken to me since the moment that he has written this declaration. He hasn’t spoken to me about it, he has not given me a reason for it, the explanation given saying that I have a conflict is inappropriate, I have legal opinion to indicate that I do not have a conflict, and if you do think that I have a conflict, then you want to take it with the Integrity Commissioner,”
“This is not appropriate to be using the Strong Mayor Powers. If this continues, my concern isn’t for me. My concern is that these Strong Mayor Powers can be used for anything, that you (Mayor Harrison) have the ability to use them for anything you want and I believe that there can be some serious reprecussions with the city in the fact that you do this and that you don’t acknowledge the fact that you haven’t even spoken to somebody that you used the Strong Mayor Powers against.”
In a recorded vote, all Council members, including Mayor Harrison and Councillor Alyea, voted in favour of the motion.
(HAILEY MACDONALD)
