City council returns to chambers on Tuesday after the summer break, with mayor Linnsie Clark expected to be in the chair's position for the first time since March when council heavily sanctioned her for a breach of conduct.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
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Medicine Hat city council will meet Tuesday for the first time since a judicial review decision into a rift among elected officials at city hall.
Mayor Linnsie Clark will also return to the council chair for the first time since March when seven other councillors found she breached council code of conduct.
She was stripped of that responsibility among other sanctions that the review largely reversed, but she told the News on Friday she will consider one of the remaining sanctions – issuing an apology – after discussing the matter behind closed doors.
She will also consider a plan to request a Municipal Affairs audit of city actions during the controversy, due later in the evening from Coun. Andy McGrogan.
“I’ve considered (an apology) but I won’t talk about it with the media before I talk with council,” Clark told the News. “(On the audit question), like any other decision, I’ll come to it from an open mind and I’ll wait to hear from administration for their thoughts, what potential costs, timing or consequences are, and hear from other councillors, then make a decision that’s best for Hatters.”
The notice of motion from McGrogan, included in a meeting agenda package published Friday, states he sees a ‘fractured” relationship between the mayor, council and staff. He sees no movement and says he hopes an audit could restore a “functional working relationship.”
Clark said she disagrees with “some of the (preamble), but the core issue is where we go from here. I’m looking forward to having that discussion.”
Dozens of Clark’s supporters are vowing to attend the meeting, held Tuesday after the long weekend – similar to shows of support after council found the mayor had breached council’s code of conduct when she challenged city manager Ann Mitchell over corporate changes in August 2023
Seven councillors voted to remove Clark from chairing council meetings last March as part of sanctions after accepting a third-party report investigation into a complaint by Coun. Shila Sharps.
That was deemed “unreasonable” punishment in the judicial review, as was barring Clark from administrative committee meetings, acting as council’s official spokesperson and cutting her wage in half by nearly $70,000 per year.
Those conditions were reversed by the Court of King’s Bench decision, requested by Clark and issued this week after an Aug. 13 hearing.
It left in place council’s decision to find Clark in breach, issuing a letter of reprimand and request of an apology – conditions still in place.
Since the hearing, council members have been more willing to discuss the working relationship since before the debate between Clark and Mitchell.
McGrogan said in a statement this week that an audit of the events could break gridlock between the two sides.
“It has been over a year since the mayor has had opportunity to apologize to serve our community more effectively, yet no attempts have been made as of yet,” McGrogan said in a statement earlier this week.
The News revealed that a meeting took place in late July with Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver, all council members and Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright to discuss what resources the province could provide to stabilize the situation.
That likely includes an audit, which would examine related procedures and actions, not necessarily financial matters.
Wright said in correspondence Friday that three options are available, but did not expand. The ministry has said it is awaiting a council decision on the offer of help and what that might entail.
Before McGrogan’s notice of motion is received by council, the meeting will feature three public hearings, two related to development projects and one to discuss off-site development levy changes.
As well, council will discuss:
– Financial support for a bid by the Medicine Hat Tigers for the 2026 Memorial Cup tournament;
– Potential support for the Town of Jasper as it recovers from wildfire;
– A new application to the federal Housing Accelerator program;
– Changes to the Alberta recycling system and its effect on solid waste utility charges.
Council scheduled its usual summer break at the beginning of August, then cancelled the open portion of a regular Aug. 19 meeting due to a lack of agenda items.
