Role and authority of a Councillor
Published June 1, 2005
In responding to citizen enquiries, I am led to the conclusion that perhaps the role and authority of a Councillor might not be clear enough.
During the past few months, I have dealt with a considerable number of citizen queries. By and large, most of these queries are successfully resolved. At times, there might be an expectation that as a Councillor, I have full authority to remedy any problem. If I cannot resolve it, it is suggested at times, that the Mayor can resolve the issue.
Once a person is elected as a Councillor, they are mandated by Section 153 of the Municipal Government Act, (MGA) "to consider the welfare and interests of the municipality as a whole". As an individual, a Councillor has absolutely no authority. Decisions as to the management of the County can only be made by a Resolution or by a Policy passed by a majority vote of Council. Section 154 of the MGA (Municipal Government Act) gives certain duties to the Mayor and they are largely ceremonial and administrative in nature. The Mayor presides as the Chair so to speak and has the same voting authority as does a Councillor. The Mayor has no authority to order or veto something done.
Section 205 of the MGA mandates that Council must appoint a person known as the Chief Administrative Officer. In our case, we call that person the Chief Commissioner. The Chief Commissioner is Council's only employee. The Act gives the Chief Commissioner the mandate to manage the County on behalf of Council. Councillors have no right to direct staff to complete any task.
By way of example, let us suppose a Ward 4 resident wants their street swept. I and all other Councillors, have no authority to phone the Transportation Manager and direct that he have the street swept. We do though have a system in place that facilitates such requests that is workable and practical. Again, by example, if Ward 4 residents want a park re-sodded, the only way it could be done is by a majority vote of Council. Such procedures are most reasonable, as to not have a clearly delineated line of responsibility would cause chaos within the County Administration.
I, and all other Councillors, take resident enquiries very seriously. Regardless of the enquiry, we are required by law to work within the system.
I hope this brief explanation will provide some understanding of how Councillors work within the municipal government process.
Peter Wlodarczak
Councillor, Ward 4
780-464-8146
wlodarczak@strathcona.ab.ca
Last updated: Wednesday, March 24, 2010
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