Transcript Town of Kensington

Prince Edward Island
Municipal Orientation ‘2007
Roles, Responsibilities and
Relationships
10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
February 17, 2007
Session Leader – Don Smeltzer
The Agenda







Introduction and Overview
Local Government – Some of the Basics
Group Exercises
Local Government: The Team in Action
Roles and Responsibilities – Who does
What
Needs
Wrap Up Questions
What Do You See?
Young or Old?
How Many Squares?
Important to Remember
Each of us can look at the same thing
and see something different!
BNA Act
Distribution of powers is given to
Federal and Provincial Governments
In the Scheme of Things

Municipal governments are
creatures of the provinces and may
be dissolved, enlarged, made
smaller and/or have powers given
to or taken away – at the whim of
the responsible provincial
government.
Municipal Government
Powers

The power that a municipality has
to govern is given to it by the
province in which the municipality
is located.
Municipalities Act

In PEI, the Municipalities Act
prescribes the powers given to
towns, villages and communities
and prescribes the regulations
under which a council may be
elected and what authority is
given.
Cities
Incorporated under:


Charlottetown Area Municipalities
Act
City of Summerside Act
Levels of Authority
Provincial Government
__________________
Municipal Governments
______
Councils
____________
Administrations
Conflict of Interest
Municipalities Act PEI Section 23:
 No member of Council shall, subject to
section 17, derive any profit or financial
advantage from his (or her) position as a
member of Council and, where a
member of Council has any pecuniary
interest in or is affected by any matter
before the Council , he (or she) shall
declare his (or her) interest therein and
shall abstain from the voting and
discussion thereon. 1983, c33, s24.
Conflict of Interest

It is also important for each member of
Council to review section 123 of the
Canadian Criminal Code. This section
relates to what is considered the
“…bribing or unlawful influence of
municipal officials…” defined as a
member of municipal council or a
person who holds an office under a
municipal government;
Situation One
You are a councillor in a medium size PEI
municipality. Just before leaving home to
attend a regular Council meeting, you receive
a phone call from a resident complaining that
a municipal employee has been using
equipment of the municipality for personal
use. The resident wants you to raise this at
tonight’s Council meeting.
How do you respond?
Situation Two
Just elected, you campaigned on the need for
honesty and open government. Re-zoning of a
property from R-2 to a C-1 to allow for construction
of a commercial enterprise is on the agenda. The
owner of the property is a well known business
person who worked on your campaign. Only a few
know that the business made a financial contribution
to your campaign effort. The business person was
recognized by the municipality several years ago as
“Entrepreneur of the Year.” You are supportive of the
re-zoning; it will create additional, badly needed jobs
in the community but there has been opposition from
some residents Outcome of the vote is uncertain and
your support is considered crucial. What position
do you take?
Situation Three
You are in charge of personnel and shortly
will be interviewing applicants for a new
public works position. The son-in-law of a
Council member has applied. The Councillor is
a member of the Public Works Committee
and, while you make decisions on this level of
employee, the practice has been to review
applications for full-time positions with the
Public Works Committee, before finalizing
your choice. How should this situation
be handled?
Situation Four
The municipality has been negotiating
privately with an off-island business to locate
in the community’s Industrial Park.
Agreement has just been reached. The Mayor
has scheduled an official announcement for
Monday. All Council members have been
advised of the latest development. Councillor
Murray ran for office on the need to attract
business to the municipality. In a radio
interview this morning he has identified the
business name and spoke about the number
of jobs that will be created. How might the
Mayor be feeling about this interview?
Video Program

Local Government: The Team in Action
Roles and Responsibilities –
Council/Council Members

establishing overall direction;

approving annual budgets;

providing leadership;
Roles and Responsibilities –
Council/Council Members



establishing priorities/setting tax rates;
providing residents with an appropriate
mix and level of services;
approving policies;
Roles and Responsibilities –
Council Members



adopting bylaws, resolutions and plans;
maintaining good public relations and
transparency of operations;
avoiding conflicts of interest;
Roles and Responsibilities –
Council/Council Members



providing competitive salaries and
benefits
supporting skill upgrading and
professional development;
operating within legislated legal limits;
Roles and Responsibilities –
Council/Council Members


governing for the present and future;
evaluating as well as providing support
and encouragement to the Chief
Administrative Officer;
Roles and Responsibilities –
Council/Council Members

promoting a system of governance
where professional ethics, trust,
honesty, openness and the desire for
excellence is encouraged.
Roles and Responsibilities –
CAO/Senior Staff



providing quality information and advice
to Council;
administering approved policies and
bylaws of Council;
managing the day-to-day operation of
the municipality;
Roles and Responsibilities –
CAO/Senior Staff



informing Council and its committees of
options, alternatives and implications;
managing the budgeting process;
overseeing the municipality’s legal
obligations;
Roles and Responsibilities –
CAO/Senior Staff



informing Council and its committees of
options, alternatives and implications;
managing and evaluating personnel;
listening and being a mentor and role
model; praising, correcting, rewarding;
Roles and Responsibilities –
CAO/Senior Staff



ensuring that ongoing staff
development takes place;
evaluating policies and programs;
maintaining an open mind and having a
commitment to ongoing professional
development;
Roles and Responsibilities –
CAO/Senior Staff



preparing draft policies and budgets;
responding to public enquiries; advising
on policies;
keeping up-to-date and informed of
developments affecting municipal
operations;
Roles and Responsibilities –
CAO/Senior Staff


networking with colleagues;
maintaining an operating environment
where professional ethics, trust,
honesty, openness and the desire for
excellence is encouraged;
Needs of Council/Councillors

public input and public support;

political and management leadership;

joint ownership of decisions;

clear role statements and guidelines;
Needs of Council/Councillors

common, shared goals and objectives;

sense of achievement and satisfaction;


recognition for the good that is being
done;
appropriate compensation;
Needs of Council/Councillors

accurate, honest information;

Courtesy and respect;

other needs?????
Needs of Employees


detailed job descriptions;
authority to perform the assigned
responsibilities;

feedback on performance;

support when mistakes are made;
Needs of Employees

healthy working conditions including
adequate staff and technical resources
to do the job well;

fair, competitive salaries and benefits;

support and encouragement;

free time to charge their batteries;
Needs of Employees

other needs?????