Beatty would delegate Strong Mayor Powers

Photo courtesy of Nicole Beatty Facebook.

By Cecilia Nasmith

Cobourg Deputy Mayor Nicole Beatty has declared that, if elected mayor, she will delegate her Strong Mayor Powers back to council members and the town's Chief Administrative Officer.

While it was made clear last year, when Cobourg became one of four Northumberland mayors given that designation, that such a desgination could not be refused, a statement issued by Beatty declares that the move she proposes is “permitted under provincial legislation, restoring collaborative decision-making and ensuring major decisions are made around the council table.”

The statement was contained in a 100-Day Action Plan the candidate released, listing this as the first of 12 points.

Other points included a pledge to “meet individually with every member of council and the town's senior leadership team to set expectations, identify priorities, understand their governance framework preferences, and establish how to work well together from day one.”

She stated her support of Cobourg Police Chief Chris Leather and the work of the force's multi-phased crime-enforcement strategy, and said she would reinstate the Planning and Development Committee.

Beatty said she will engage the community in the Official Plan process as it sets directions on the town's growth, and reprioritize the town's Integrated Community Sustainability Plan to ensure this growth is “financially responsible, environmentally sustainable and prepared for the future.”

And while Strong Mayor Powers enable a mayor to set a budget unilaterally, Beatty wants to establish a permanent Resident Budget Advisory Committee made up of both residents and council members – as well as a Mayor's Economic Advisory Roundtable to prepare for and take advantage of such future economic opportunities as the Wesleyville nuclear project.

She pledged to work with staff, council and stakeholders to develop priority recommendations for the town's parks and playgrounds, as well as to convene a Community Safety Action Table “to identify prevention measures in parks and public spaces while ensuring service co-ordination priorities and support plans are in place for people experiencing crisis.”

Her statement closed with her wish to establish an Arts and Culture Ambassador Program as well as a virtual Community Idea Bank.

Her closing statement acknowledged that this is an ambitious agenda for the first 100 days, adding, “that is intentional. Cobourg needs a council that is ready to get to work from day one.

“My commitment is to bring council together, focus Town Hall on the priorities residents have asked us to address, and spend less time on conflict and distractions and more time delivering results.”