SUMA Regional Meetings Fall 2009Newly Elected Officials Session

Municipal Councils andCouncil Meetings

The Municipalities Act & The Cities Act

Sets out municipal powers and duties Powers – discretionary authority

Council MAY pass bylaws to establish tax policy

Duties – required actions Municipality SHALL provide information

respecting education tax collections, etc on a monthly basis More details required September and January

The Municipalities Act& The Cities Act

Permissive legislation Powers are broadly described

Natural Person Powers Regulatory Powers

Purposes of municipalities

Provide good government Provide needed or wanted services,

facilities, etc Develop safe, viable community Foster economic, social, and

environmental well-being Take care of public assets

Act principles and purposes Municipalities are

Responsible, accountable level of government within its jurisdiction

Subject to provincial and federal laws Purposes of the Act

Provide legal structure Provide powers, duties and functions Provide flexibility to address needs Ensures municipalities are

Accountable to electors Responsible to encourage and enable public participation

Elected official’s roles

Work collectively, not individually Advocate for community as a whole Respect roles of others, such as the

administrator Representative

Responsive to public opinion Mandate

Empowered to make decisions

Administrator’s role

Advisor to council Implements council policy Towns and villages with population

100 or more require certified administrator

Some duties set out in legislation

Communication

With other members of council Focus on issues, not other factors Voice your concerns

With administrator Build trust with frank, open dialogue

Communication

With the public Informal conversations Local news media Town hall meetings Attending council meetings Petition for public meeting Petition for referendum

Keys to working effectively

Become informed Familiarity with local issues Knowledge of common issues Participate in regional and provincial forums Municipal Leadership Development

Program Municipal Capacity Development Program

Keys to working effectively

Follow procedures Know and understand local processes Understand and accept roles

Communicate With the administrator With each other With the public

Contact information

Ministry of Municipal AffairsStrategy and Sector RelationsAdvisory Services

410 – 1855 Victoria AvenueRegina SKPhone (306) 787-2680www.municipal.gov.sk.ca

What do you do?

A member of council acts unilaterally and without authorization

What do you do?

A member of council refuses to declare a pecuniary interest (financial conflict of interest)

What do you do?

The agenda for the upcoming meeting includes a topic of vital importance for the community. The item must be dealt with at this meeting. You will be unable to attend due to a prior commitment which cannot be rescheduled.

What do you do?

Council must deal with a critical situation 2 days after its last meeting.

The matter cannot wait until the next meeting.

What do you do?

A vocal minority has lobbied Council to enact a bylaw

Council senses there is controversy – the bylaw suggested by this interest group may not be widely supported

What do you do?

A citizen complains about the administrator’s attitude to you

What do you do?

Member of council continually disrupts meetings

What do you do?

The community is deeply divided on a municipal initiative

What do you do?

Council is unable to agree on the priority of municipal projects and initiatives