Heather Wright/The Independent

Plympton-Wyoming Mayoral Candidate Tim Wilkins says he’s not a “big believer” in Strong Mayor Powers but says if he did use them, it would be to pick the town’s chief administrative officer.

The statement came during the first of two All-Candidates night in the town; this one organized by the Huron Shores Optimist Club in Camlachie Oct. 1.

Both Wilkins and incumbent Gary Atkinson were asked if they thought they should use Strong Mayor Powers, granted to the leaders of 216 municipalities, for things such as creating school safety zones.

The legislation allows mayors a broad range of powers and are meant to be used to further provincial priorities of affordable housing and the infrastructure to support it. Theoretically, the mayors can over rule a decision of council they believe will slow growth. But the powers also give mayors the ability to hire and fire the CAO and senior staff.

Mayors also must use the powers to create a yearly budget, however they can simply tell the staff to compile a document for council to review. In Plympton-Wyoming, Atkinson set a target for staff of a three per cent tax increase
in the 2026 document.

“I’m not a big believer in stronger power. I believe in democracy,” said Wilkins in answer to the question from an audience member. “It’s council as a whole that make a decision on what is a priority.

But Wilkins said if he had to pick one power to use, it would be the ability to hire the CAO.

“If I had to be held accountable that ‘Tim you have to pick one thing’ I would probably have to pick the CAO,” Wilkins told the audience. “At the end of the day, the mayor works hand-in-hand with the CAO during the entire term. I think when it comes down to it, if the CAO and the mayor can’t get along that’s not very good for the municipality.”

Wilkins’ words came after several of the incumbent councillors cited the harmony on council after the current CAO Adam Sobanski came on board as one of their accomplishments.

“We made some difficult decisions,” said incumbent council candidate John Van Klaveren. “We rebuilt our senior staff team, bringing talented local people into key positions. We’ve seen tremendous performance, renewed morale, and municipality moving strongly forward.”

Incumbent council candidate Mike Vasey agreed saying the hiring practice of finding local leaders should continue.

“This way, we’re not just a stopover in somebody’s career path. We stopped the revolving door staff and allowed Adam to build and work with his team. The results of this has been remarkable. Our morale is high. We now have continuity in the town hall, and this ultimately saves you taxpayers’ money. We have great staff doing a great job, but most of all, they want to stay with us,” says Vasey.

During the meeting, Wilkins also took aim at what he called the “backroom deal” which led to the town purchasing four acres of land on Queen Street for a future pumping station. It cost of $345,000. He says he’s been talking with the neighbours in the area and can’t figure out why the town purchased the land, which is now being farmed, in that spot for so much money when the cost of an acre of farm land is now between $20,000 and $30,000.

“We gave $345,000 for four acres – does that make sense? It doesn’t make sense.”

Wilkins said it would be one of his priorities to find a better spot in the area for a pumping station.

Alex Boughen, an incumbent seeking a second term on council, said that while he supported the purchase because a pumping station is needed, he didn’t think four acres was needed.

Netty McEwen, the current deputy mayor seeking another term, says the larger lot will allow the station to blend into the area better, looking like a residential unit instead of a pumping station.

Wilkins and deputy mayor candidate Brad Zantingh also faced some pointed questions from the crowd. One person asked Wilkins about his leadership style.

“How you will handle situations when the council doesn’t support your current direction or they vote in items you disagree with? Would you love to use your strong mayor powers to push through what council may not endorse?”

Wilkins said council had to work together, noting it should be a “clique of four” making all the decisions. “It’s everybody’s decision.”

He added better information is needed to make strong decisions. Wilkins added residents he has been talking to believe staff is making decisions. “You’re electing us to tell us to tell staff what you want. So there’s a little bit that has to kind of change there.”

Zantingh, a developer who has repeatedly taken the town to the Ontario Land Tribunal winning decisions to allow him to create subdivisions, was asked if his work would put him in conflict with making decisions at council.

Zantingh noted he attends council frequently but “there’s probably been five times in the last year I’ve been in front of council. So, I don’t think it’s as significant of a portion of council business as some might think.”

Atkinson, Wilkins, Zantingh, McEwen, Vasey, Boughen, Bob Woolvett, Kristen Rodrigues, Van Klaveren, John Colling, Jess Jessome, Ruth Vanderburgt meet again Thursday at the Wyoming Lion’s Hall at 7 pm.