Norfolk uneasy about strong mayor powers

Luke Edwards

Advocate Correspondent

While Norfolk County has no opportunity to opt out of the strong mayor powers this time, there seems to remain little appetite for the legislation to be put to use for at least this term of council.

A report presented at the May 13 council-in-committee outlined what the new round of strong mayor powers means for Norfolk. The county previously opted out of accepting the strong mayor powers and the housing targets and funding that was tied to it.

However, this new round brings strong mayor powers to 170 municipalities in the province, with no opt-outs.

“She could have taken it the first time. She did not. Currently she doesn’t have the option now, she has the powers as of May 1,” said CAO Al Meneses, referring to Norfolk Mayor Amy Martin.

While there’s no option to opt out, heads of council with newly appointed strong mayor powers don’t have to use said powers.

“The mayor has full authority to decide when to exercise her powers or when not to exercise her powers. And it’s specifically laid out in the legislation which powers could be delegated and to whom,” said Clerk William Tigert.

Coun. Kim Huffman, who later in the meeting gave a notice of motion about sending a letter of opposition to Queen’s Park on the strong mayor powers, said the move by the Doug Ford government is a step too far. She said they dealt with it before when it was optional.

“And now it’s a further overreach from the provincial government to involve themselves in a municipality’s day-to-day function,” she said.

The legislation provides mayors the authority to override certain council wishes. Some of those powers include the ability to appoint a CAO, hire and terminate staff department heads, as well as enhanced control over the budget by allowing them to propose their own budget as well as an ability to veto.

They can also veto certain bylaws if they deem the bylaw to contravene provincial targets such as housing, infrastructure or transit. 

Council can override a mayoral veto with a two-thirds vote.

Finally, they can propose bylaws that they believe meet those targets, and require only a one-third vote. In Norfolk that would mean a bylaw put forward by the mayor could pass with only four votes among the nine members of council.

Tigert pointed out there’s already been some pushback and the legislation will likely be subject to court decisions and could be refined and changed.

“This is very new legislation… I would expect there may be pushback from municipal councils, there may be pushback from the community itself,” he said.

He also said some of the changes will likely be incorporated into an update to the procedural bylaw.

A few municipalities have already sent letters voicing their opposition.

Despite a seeming disinterest from Norfolk council to utilize strong mayor powers, Martin did point out they can’t force future councils to take the same approach.

“We also do not have the ability to provide direction or handcuff or ask a future mayor to delegate or not use those powers. Each and every time there is a new mayor in Norfolk County for the foreseeable future those powers will be at the discretion of that particular individual,” she said.