Crate rejects strong mayor powers
Announces he will give them up and stick to current practices
Trent Hills Mayor Bob Crate has a message for Premier Doug Ford: Keep your strong mayor powers. I don’t want them. We don’t need them here.
At their meeting on Tuesday, councillors agreed that they intend to keep following the democratic, collaborative approach that they always use.
On May 1, Trent Hills, Brighton, and Cobourg were among many municipalities where the province granted the mayors power to hire and fire senior staff, veto budgets, and determine committee structures and memberships.
The Ford government’s rationale for disrupting existing relationships was that it was needed to remove red tape and allow quicker approval of projects, especially housing.
“Trent Hills does not have provincially assigned housing targets, and therefore, in my opinion, the conditions prompting the use of these powers do not currently apply to our local governance context,” Crate said in prepared remarks.
Then, he announced plans to delegate most of his strong mayor powers back to council or Chief Administrative Officer Lynn Phillips.
Crate noted that under the legislation he cannot delegate power over budget preparation, so he promised to “make a formal declaration to direct staff to prepare the budget in the same manner as has been done previously.”
He also promised not to use the power to veto bylaws.
Crate said he was taking these actions “in the interest of collaborative governance, transparency, and continuity with our current practices.”
Councillors quickly agreed with Crate’s approach.
“I say well done, you worship upon recognizing the need to delegate,” said Councillor Daniel Giddings. “Our size and rural character allow for close relationships between councillors and council decisions often reflect the collective community-based approach.”
Long-time councillor Gene Brahaney noted that he had been apprehensive when he heard the mayor was going to be given control over council. “I think the mayor and the previous mayor have enjoyed the support of council. I support your letter and your comments.”
“We do strive to work as a team around this table,” said Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf. “We don't always see eye to eye, but we can have a discussion; we can bring our concerns forward; we can listen and in the end, we make a decision. When we may not all agree, but the outcome is what this council decides, and this council goes forward with that.”
Council agreed that staff should look at the situation and draft any bylaws necessary to enact Crate’s plan.
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The Mayor shouldn,t be so quick to make a decision. Should see what other Municipalities are doing. If it is a simple minor variance and no one objects, what wrong with the Mayor or administer approving it. I believe I read where the council gets paid to attend every council meeting. With the increase in taxes, the Mayor and administrator should be looking at saving dollars.