Burlington city council requests mayor delegates some strong mayor powers

At a special Burlington city council meeting on Tuesday, a resolution passed with unanimous support asking mayor Marianne Meed Ward to delegate some of her strong mayor powers.

Some of these powers relate to the hiring and firing of some staff.

Tuesday’s motion, titled “Improving Local Democracy by Strengthening City Decision-Making,” aims at turning that power from the mayor to council.

Several councilors voiced their displeasure for the Ford government’s imposition of strong mayor powers through changes to the provincial Municipal Act.

“I brought this motion forward, along with councillors Galbraith and Stolte, because the strong mayor powers are clearly anti-democratic and a cause of dysfunction at the city,” Ward 3 councillor Rory Nisan said.

“The mayor has said that she does not need these powers, so I am hopeful they will be delegated expeditiously in order to restore council to its high functioning status and provide a stable atmosphere at the city.”

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The request comes in the form of an ask as council is not permitted to impose an obligation onto the mayor.

“The decision to delegate these powers rests solely with the mayor,” the city’s Director of Legal Services Blake Hurley said.

Meed Ward participated in the meeting, but had little to say beyond her role as its moderator.

She says she will consider the request, but wants to emphasize that only certain parts of her powers can be delegated under the rules.

The next Burlington city council meeting is April 16, and the mayor is expected to have a decision made by then.