Ingersoll mayor talks about his first Strong Mayor budget

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Brian Petrie gave members of town council, staff and the public a sneak peek of what Ingersoll’s first-ever Strong Mayor Power budget will look like. Staff tabled a report on what’s to come regarding the new budget process, one led by the mayor after a sweeping change at Queen’s Park.

Petrie, along with the heads of council from 168 other municipalities, was granted strong mayor powers on May 1 of this year.

On or before February 1 of each year, the mayor is required to prepare and table a proposed budget by providing it to each member of council and the clerk, and by making it publicly available. This action does not need to occur at a council meeting.

Council may consider and pass a resolution to amend the proposed budget within 30 days of its tabling. That must happen at a council meeting and any amendments are subject to the normal procedural rules governing motions. If Council amends the proposed budget, the mayor has 10 days to issue a veto. A veto must be provided in writing to each member of council and the clerk, along with the mayor’s reasons for the veto, and does not require a council meeting.

Petrie assured council he won’t be using his veto powers.

“I’ll tell you right now, I’m not vetoing anything, so the 30 days is as long as it’s going to take.”

Coun. Kristy Van Kooten-Bossence took the opportunity to thank the mayor for continuing to be a team player as head of council.

“…from the very beginning, you’ve said you didn’t want them but would try to work around them. By doing this process, I feel we all have an equal say at this table. In 18 years, up until this year, I always felt that - but with bringing in the strong mayor I thought wow, what are we doing sitting around this table because it could take all of us out.”

She also thanked staff for keeping the rest of council informed and took a shot at the Doug Ford government.

“I’m sad that’s how the province thinks it should go because that’s not how it should go. We have a democratic system for a reason, and this takes out the democratic system. But the way you are doing it leaves it there for us to be able to continue to have a vote and to have a say.”

Petrie said the budgetary powers he now has creates an adversarial process, but his priority is to keep a collaborative tone.

“We were all elected to be at the table. I don’t agree with any legislation that takes away that right. It doesn’t work well. My biggest worry was staff would have to make a budget then I would have to look at it and then council. We do this all the time without this double process.”

He added other municipalities have done the same route as Ingersoll and the province has not stepped in to intervene.

“We can do the process ahead of time just like we’ve always done and until I say this is the budget from the mayor’s office, it’s not the budget so we can have consultation and input and hopefully a consensus about where we want to go.”

Coun. Rick Eus asked how the mayor sees the collaboration with the rest of council and the community developing in addition to how the community grant process could be affected.

“I see it the same way it’s always happened,” explained Petrie. “If I want something to happen, I have the right to put it in the budget but to me, I want to talk to my colleagues. As far as the community grants, we have a policy and staff look at what qualifies or not. I think we should sit around the table, have a discussion and get feedback about what should be in there.”

He added if the majority of councillors want something to be in the budget, it will be there.

“There’s nothing that says you can’t have a vote on something. That’s the way I see it happening. Having those meetings that we normally do and having that process.”

A meeting has been scheduled for Nov. 2 where staff recommendations for the budget will be presented to council the way it has previously been done. It will include both the operating and capital sides and councillors will have until Nov. 24 to provide feedback.