Strong mayors powers panned by council contenders

Heather Wright/The Independent

The people running to be the next Plympton-Wyoming council members aren’t fond of the extra powers the next mayor will have.

And even the mayoral candidates don’t agree on how the powers handed out by the province to build more homes faster, should be used.

The Ford government has given 216 municipalities Strong Mayor powers. It allows mayors to form the budget, hire and fire top staff and veto decisions of council among other things.

During a Round Table discussion with The Independent, the candidates for council and deputy mayor roundly opposed the new powers.

Netty McEwen, who is running to be the deputy mayor and theoretically would have the ability to use the powers should she take over for the mayor, was blunt. “It’s undemocratic.”

She wasn’t alone in her assessment.

“I believe that we are all elected by the same folks. No one person in council should have any more power than the rest of us,” said John Charles Colling during the discussion.

Alex Boughen agreed. “We’re all elected with the same voice…for a mayor to invoke a Strong Mayor Power just because what they think is what is what’s best for the community, I think flies in the face of what we’re elected to do.”

“I would like to see the council basically put the ball in the court of the mayor and say, ‘what is your expectation for the next four years? Do you plan to use those stronger powers?’ and at least put them in a position where they got to make a decision,” added Boughen.

“And if you know they choose not to use it and they decide to change their mind later, that’s on them.”

John Van Klaveren agreed adding the mayor should voluntarily abdicating that role of ever having them.

Ruth Vanderburgt believes voters would not want to see one person making all the decisions. “They expect the seven people to sit down and work things out and talk constructively and make decisions constructively.”

Bob Woolvett says a mayor needs to use the power carefully or risk alienating council.

“I don’t think it would work very well after that because that would split the mayor from the council, and that’s the last thing you want.”

Jess Jessome agreed. “It would create a division, big division within council chambers and the community.”

Mike Vasey adds the problem wouldn’t just be a division on council. “It’s just an abuse of power. If you don’t get along with the CAO, we’re gonna get rid of them. Saying that, it ain’t free to get rid of anybody. So, it’s gonna cost you huge money.”

In a separate Round Table, mayoral candidates Gary Atkinson and Tim Wilkins, the incumbent said he doesn’t like the new powers.

“I feel that the residents have elected five councillors, a deputy mayor, and a mayor to work together. It’s not a dictatorship” But Atkinson said if he felt council had made an outrageous decision, he would use the powers. “If it was outrageous, I would hold it back.”

Wilkins said he would consider using the powers to hire a CAO who he would work well with. But he believes he wouldn’t have to override council decision, since the taxpayers would put pressure on them instead.

While the powers are troubling, Kristen Rodrigues says the over reach by the province with the new rules just is the tip of the iceberg.

“They have stolen Santa’s elves and plunked them in that provincial legislature, and have them working 24/7 to rip apart every piece of legislation as quickly as they can, and reinvent it – so quickly that it’s been practically impossible to keep up.”

Listen to the full discussion with Gary Atkinson and Tim Wilkins here

Listen to the full discussion with council candidates Alex Boughen, John Charles Colling, Jessica Jessome, Kristen Rodrigues, Ruth Vanderburgt, John van Klaveren, Mike Vasey, and Bob Woolvett as well as deputy mayor candidate Netty McEwen. The second candidate for deputy mayor, Brad Zantingh, declined to be involved in the round table saying he could not make time in his work schedule.