There’s likely to be a long debate on a long motion regarding new housing construction and Strong Mayor powers at Belleville city council’s next meeting.
Councillor Paul Carr stood to make a notice of motion at Monday’s meeting, a motion that took about four minutes to read.
Carr will ask council to formally reject Strong Mayor powers that will be granted to the City of Belleville should Mayor Neil Ellis agree by October 15 to meet a goal of 3,100 new housing starts, affordable and market units, by 2031.
Ellis tells Quinte News he feels many of the Strong Mayor powers, such as veto power over council decisions and total control over the budget, are unnecessary and undemocratic.
In his motion, Carr also says cities don’t build houses and says the province should punish developers who don’t build developments already approved by the city.
Below is audio (note: there is a faint echo) of Councillor Carr’s Notice of Motion.
Below is an Ontario government description of Strong Mayor powers.
Strong Mayor powers offer tools to help heads of council cut red tape and speed up the delivery of key shared municipal-provincial priorities such as housing, transit and infrastructure in their municipalities. These enhanced powers will also bring increased accountability for local leaders, while checks and balances maintain the important oversight role of councillors. For example, council may override the mayor’s veto of by-laws or budget amendments with a two-thirds majority vote.
Strong Mayor powers and duties include:
- Choosing to appoint the municipality’s chief administrative officer
- Hiring certain municipal department heads, and establishing and reorganizing departments
- Creating committees of council, assigning their functions and appointing the chairs and vice-chairs of committees of council
- Proposing the municipal budget, which would be subject to council amendments and a separate head of council veto and council override process
- Vetoing certain by-laws if the head of council is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority
- Bringing forward matters for council consideration if the head of council is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority
