City councillors Shila Sharps (centre) and Cassi Hider (left) talk with Mayor Linnsie Clark during a recess at Monday night's council meeting.--News photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The fallout from a terse exchange between Mayor Linnsie Clark and city manager Ann Mitchell could still be coming as councillors tell the News the mayor risks isolating herself further.
It all comes after a series of exchanges between Clark and Mitchell about the city’s corporate reorganization announced last month.
It was endorsed by an 8-1 vote in early voting and unanimously approved after councillor interceded to break up the exchange between the chief elected and chief administrative officers with a recess.
During discussion Mitchell said past practice was followed in the changes which switched some areas of responsibilities, promoted some senior officials and, according to Clark, cost some jobs.
“People have lost their jobs already,” Clark asked Mitchell, arguing that council should have passed a motion to request the reorganization before it was enacted, discussed an outside legal opinion and asked about potential ramifications.
“Why is this only coming to council now?”
Mitchell herself said the changes were done in accordance with past practice, and at one point told council the exchange was “highly inappropriate and I’d like it to stop.”
The evening seemed to show growing unhappiness among council members who later in the meeting approved procedure bylaw amendments that limited the mayor’s power to make committee appointments or take part in committee meetings.
Clark voted alongside council on those changes.
But the exchange with Mitchell could move to an investigation process under council’s code of conduct rules if a formal complaint is made.
Council members told the News on Wednesday they are considering how to proceed.
“The tone and behaviour of the mayor was unbecoming of the office,” said Coun. Robert Dumanowski. He said he felt that elected officials are held to a high standard and Clark’s line of questioning was “character assassination” on an issue already decided by eight of nine council members.
“It was all discussed before it came to (open) council,” he said. “To air it in public served nothing more than a personal attack … It’s an unfounded public spectacle that harms the relationship between council and an administrator.”
Clark told reporters on Monday she was concerned about administrators moving unilaterally without the proper go-ahead from elected officials. She also said she would respect council’s decision now that it had been made.
Other councillors said the changes took place during a time period when several senior staff members left the city and changes needed to be made.
They felt they had been properly advised in a closed session briefing in early July.
Coun. Andy McGrogan said he felt well-informed throughout discussions of the reorganization and called Monday’s meeting “an uncomfortable situation.”
“Hopefully there’s a way to move forward,” he said.
Coun. Darren Hirsch said council needs to address several important issues in the community in the next months. A final feedback session on recreation capital projects is scheduled for next Monday in a council-of-the-whole format. He would also like to revisit the potential of a utility rate or dividend review in the short term.
“We’re not the first council in recorded history to maybe not get along, but we still have to be respectful and act in the public interest,” he said.
Coun. Allison Knodel told the News in a statement that “regardless of the position, be it mayor, council member, or city managers and staff, it’s our ultimate responsibility to work together and respect one another.”
“The culture of respect is essential to accomplish goals required to serve the community,” she wrote. “When respect is lost, we are unable to move forward.”
