Essex Mayor has not used Strong Mayor Powers to date

by Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative

Mayor Sherry Bondy was waived all Strong Mayor Powers opportunities, since the Province extended this program to the Town of Essex in May.

  Joe Malandruccolo, Director of Legal and Legislative Services/Clerk, updated Council on the Strong Mayor Powers provincial provisions at the October 6 regular meeting.

  Previously, he noted the Strong Mayor Powers were first introduced in 2022. It was added to the Special Powers and Duties of the Head of Council section in the Municipal Act and Bill 39, the Better Municipal Governance Act.

  Prior to the extension, 47 municipalities had Strong Mayor Powers. The Province extended that to an additional 169 municipalities, of which the Town of Essex is one.

  Strong Mayor Powers fall into three categories; legislative, administrative, and financial powers.

  Back in April, Essex Council unanimously sent formal opposition to the province regarding its then intention to expand the Strong Mayor Powers program. On May 1, the province did approve that extension, which included Essex.

  To date, Mayor Sherry Bondy has not exercised her Strong Mayor Powers at all, Malandruccolo told Essex Council.

  Essex’s first two Strong Mayor declarations made were declarations of authority.  

The first was leaving how the organizational structure of the Town should be determined to the CAO. The second gave the authority to appoint or dismiss the CAO; establish, dissolve, appoint Chairpersons/Vice Chairpersons, and assign functions to Committees of Council that are comprised of Council members back to Council.

  Bondy also directed staff to prepare a proposed 2026 budget and present it to Council in December, and directed that the 10-day mayoral budget veto period for 2026 be shortened to zero days, which effectively waived the veto period, Malandruccolo explained.

  Council received a Budget Initiation Memo in June, outlining the process for the 2026 Budget, Malandruccolo told Council. The Budget Walkthrough will take place November 24, and deliberations will take place December 8, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for the following day, if required.

  The budget process will be a little different this time, Malandruccolo added. Once Council determines the budget, they will be asked to wave their veto rights, because the Mayor waived hers.

  At that time, Administration will ask Council and the Mayor to sign-off on the budget.  

  That brought the budget process back to what it was prior to the Strong Mayor Powers being implemented, Malandruccolo said.

  Since the Strong Mayor Powers were extended to Essex, there have been nine additional mayoral directions, with another brought forward that meeting, each leading to the approval of by-laws passed by Council, effectively waiving her Strong Mayor Powers.   

  Since it was expanded to Essex May 1, Malandruccolo noted over 100 pieces of communication have been received from other municipalities opposing the Strong Mayor Powers. Essex also sent a letter to the province opposing the Strong Mayor Powers.

  So far, the Town has not heard anything from the province in response, Malandruccolo explained.

  One thing Council asked Administration to look into was how the “Lame Duck Council” period would go. This is a period of time during the year of a Municipal Election, where certain actions of Council may be restricted, if less than three-quarters of an outgoing Council can be re-elected.

  Malandruccolo noted that if Council is deemed to be “Lame Duck” during the election period, then Council’s powers are limited during that time, and that includes the mayor.

  He noted a question came about that if Essex has a Strong Mayor, what happens to her powers during that Lame Duck period, information from the Ministry told Essex admin to get legal advice. If that happens, Malandruccolo said they will provide advice on how to proceed. He believes the Mayor’s powers would also be limited.

  Bondy thanked administration for providing the information, before Council received the presentation.