Heather Wright/The Independent

Four Lambton County mayors have been given extra powers under the province’s Strong Mayors Act.

Petrolia’s Brad Loosley, Lambton Shores’ Doug Cook, St. Clair’s Jeff Agar and Plympton-Wyoming’s Gary Atkinson were among 169 mayors who received word April 9, the province hopes to give them
additional powers beginning in May.

The province introduced the regulation in large cities to “reduce obstacles that can stand in the way of new housing and infra- structure development.”

With the power, mayors can appoint the municipality’s CAO, which is now a decision of council. It also allows the mayor to hire some department heads or rearrange departments – normally the CAO’s job,
create committees and assign councillors – something done by consent now.

The legislation also allows mayors to propose budgets, and veto bylaws which they feel may go against provincial priorities.

While the powers will be assigned to the smaller community mayors, it isn’t clear how many will actually use them. Atkinson says he can’t think of one instance in the past that would have compelled him to use
Strong Mayor powers. “I think it’s probably a good idea. But I think in Plympton-Wyoming, we’ve had a good working relationship with our council, and I’m not sure that we would probably need it at this time,” he says.

Jeff Agar agrees saying he’s likely to keep the powers in his back pocket. “I think the mayor of Sarnia has had it for some time and I don’t think he’s even used it.”

While some mayors seem okay with the new powers, Petrolia’s Deputy Mayor, Joel Field is not, calling it “dangerous to democracy.

“Our residents participate in elections to choose a council. The decisions are made through the majority and the consensus, not through a single individual.”

Field adds,, “We don’t look very far to see examples of one person making decisions the negative outcomes and impacts.”