(Release Date: March 22, 2017)
Mayor calls it a ‘poorly thought out’ motion
Carleton Place Almonte Canadian Gazette
Following on the heels of the planning and protection committee recommendation March 7, Carleton Place council has officially endorsed deputy mayor Jerry Flynn as its spokesperson.
The matter was discussed further during the March 14 council session, which saw the vote pass 6-1, with Flynn, councillors Doug Black, Brian Doucett, Theresa Fritz, Sean Redmond and Ross Trimble in favour and mayor Louis Antonakos abstaining. It was introduced by Doucett March 7 due to the mayor’s refusal to respond to the media “about important issues facing the community.”
“Council needs to resolve this issue in the interests of the community we serve so that important information reaches them,” reads the motion.
Prior to its passing, Antonakos made another statement of his distaste for the motion, noting it set a dangerous precedent for municipalities.
“The real downside of this motion, besides the potential mixed messaging coming from council and the potential confusion in our community on important issues, is the precedent it sets across the province in the other 444 municipalities,” he stated.
While the motion, introduced by Doucett, doesn’t prevent any council member from speaking to the media, Antonakos believes “this motion is too vague and it leaves the door open for far too many interpretations.”
He said those interpretations could “cause tremendous turmoil” on councils across Ontario.
“The political ramifications are potentially endless; from misunderstandings on councils, to misunderstandings in communities, to the misuse of this kind of motion for political gain or political disruptions,” Antonakos commented. “I sincerely hope that the province and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs (and Housing) and the AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) can work together to figure this one out before this kind of motion gains legs and replicates across Ontario.”
At the request of Antonakos, clerk Duncan Rogers, read out Section 226 of the Ontario Municipal Act, of which he provided each member of council a copy. It references “a municipality may, with the consent of the head of council, appoint a member of council to act in the place of the head of council on any body, other than on the council of another municipality, of which the head of council is a member by virtue of being head of council.”
The section also makes note that as the head of council, the mayor should “uphold and promote the purposes of the municipality; promote public involvement in the municipality’s activities; act as the representative of the municipality both within and outside the municipality, and promote the municipality locally, nationally and internationally; and participate in and foster activities that enhance the economic, social and environmental well-being of the municipality and its residents.”
When asked by Antonakos if any council members wished to provide comment, Doucett responded to his statement.
“Your opinion is exactly that,” he said. “According to the information we (council) have that we’ve seen in this act, this (motion) in no way violates any conception of the act. As far as the wording of the motion, we can word it 17 different ways. Again, that’s a point of view that each person may have.”
Antonakos asked if Doucett was making a legal opinion on the motion on behalf of the town.
“That’s my opinion,” Doucett stated. “That’s nobody else’s opinion and I have not sought legal opinion.”
Pressing the matter further, Antonakos wondered if this motion should be passed without seeking input from the town’s solicitor.
“It’s not that long ago that a member of the gallery, through a comment, had used strong language and the deputy mayor, and he quite rightly did so, thought we should get a legal opinion on the matter...” he pointed out. “Staff were kind enough to get that legal opinion and present it to us so we could make a decision that represents our municipality and our residents.”
The matter Antonakos referred to involved whether or not the town followed its procurement of goods and services policy when the work in Roy Brown Park was awarded without using a formal tendering process. The town’s solicitor determined there was no contravention of the policy.
Antonakos continued, noting that documents such as the Municipal Act may be steeped in tradition, but also “strict, legal law and the interpretation of it.” He stressed this decision was not in the best interest of the community.
“To make that kind of decision without getting a legal opinion from our staff, particularly the way in which this motion was introduced, without it being brought forward on an agenda where members of the public could comment, to me, is not acting in the interest of our municipality,” Antonakos said. “But that’s my opinion and it’s my job to guide this council and to address any issues that I think will be a problem for us, going forward. If it’s the decision and will of this council to go ahead with this motion, then so be it.”
Contact Information:
Phone: 613-257-6206
Email: lantonakos@carletonplace.ca
Email: lantonakos@carletonplace.ca
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