Despite the use of strong mayor powers in the removal of David Clazie as Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Quinte West, Quinte West City Council expressed their opposition to the newly gained powers at its meeting on Wednesday.
The city officially received the powers found under the Municipal Act on May 1, with the decision to remove Clazie being done on the first day that the powers were enacted.
Clazie’s removal is found under the “Strong Mayor Powers and Duties” section of the City of Quinte West’s website.
In discussion of the recommendation to receive a report on the powers, Councillor David O’Neill expressed his opposition saying: “I think this mandate from the province erodes the power of councillors, and I do disagree with it wholly. I’m glad that you (Mayor Jim Harrison) feel you won’t use them, but I think the province missed the whole boat mandating these powers.”
“That’s a good point you just made,” Mayor Harrison said in response to Councillor O’Neill’s opposition of the powers.
“I want you to make everybody aware that when we made a change with the CAO, that was a council decision. That was nothing to do with Strong Mayors. That was a council decision.”
In regards to the powers themselves, other councillors also expressed their opposition to them, specifically the idea that the use of the powers would have more homes built.
“I think it does erode, in my opinion, the democracy of what a council is there to do,” Councillor Egerton Boyce explained.
“This legislation isn’t really something that’s going to make more homes and might make more things. I think an effective council does that, not one person.”
Councillor Shelley Stedall also expressed her opposition to the powers, saying the first 42 municipalities that received them got cash.
“Strong mayor powers was for that cash to be able to build more homes. We’re not getting any of that,” Stedall said.
“So I don’t understand, and I have not had it appropriately explained to me, is that how this piece of legislation for the other 169 including Quinte West, actually helps us get more homes built, like I don’t see that.”
Mayor Harrison said he was in unison with the other council members.
“I don’t understand the purpose,” Harrison said.
“I don’t understand why, if it isn’t broke, why break it? You know, we have a good democratic process here, where people are out on a regular basis, doing their job and communicating to the residents to the best of our ability, and bringing it back here so that we can deal with it.”
Council voted in favour of receiving the report.
Later in the meeting, council approved sending a letter to the province expressing their opposition to the powers, similar to a resolution being brought from Tilsonburg Town Council.
