Medicine Hat mayor sanctioned by colleagues, pay cut in half

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Medication Hat’s mayor is dealing with a slate of sanctions, together with a 50 per cent wage discount and a stripping of almost all her mayoral duties, after seven of her colleagues agreed she violated council’s code of conduct throughout a council assembly final summer time.

At a particular council assembly on Thursday, seven Medication Hat council members unanimously supported a movement that discovered Mayor Linnsie Clark had breached their code of conduct bylaw by “failing to deal with town supervisor in a well mannered way, dignity and respect” through the Aug. 21, 2023 common assembly.

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The sanctions droop Clark from her presiding duties at council conferences, prohibit her from coming into the executive space of Medication Hat’s metropolis corridor and limit her from having any direct contact with metropolis workers exterior of council conferences, based on a information bulletin on town’s web site.

If she is to speak with town supervisor, Clark could solely accomplish that through an e-mail that’s copied to the remainder of council. If the 2 are to fulfill in individual, one other council member have to be current throughout that assembly.

Clark should additionally publish a letter of reprimand and a request for apology. She is going to not be the official spokesperson for council and can not attend conferences of town’s administration committee.

On account of her stripped duties, Clark’s wage has been minimize in half.

Mayor calls sanctions ‘surprising and completely disproportionate’

Clark, who was not at Thursday’s assembly, blasted the sanctions imposed upon her in a social media response, which hinted she would possibly contemplate authorized motion in opposition to town.

In a Fb publish, she mentioned she discovered council’s sanctions “surprising and completely disproportionate.”

“I’m reviewing my authorized choices and anticipate to be ready to offer an additional public response after I’ve executed so,” she mentioned.

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Previously a lawyer for the Metropolis of Medication Hat’s authorized division, Clark efficiently ran for mayor through the 2021 municipal election, accumulating 66 per cent of the vote and ousting incumbent Ted Clugston. She was town’s first feminine mayor, based on reporting from the Medication Hat Information.

However Clark’s reputation has taken successful since her landslide election victory, exemplified by a recall petition submitted by a resident in opposition to her final fall. That recall effort fell far wanting the province’s threshold, nonetheless, garnering roughly 8,000 signatures of a required 26,000.

In her Fb publish on Thursday, Clark mentioned she ran on a “platform of change” on behalf of Medication Hat residents who have been involved about administrative overreach and “poor governance” at metropolis corridor.

“I stand by these rules,” she wrote. “I consider holding town’s administration to account is the position of council. I gave up my job as a lawyer for town to struggle for what I consider is correct for Medication Hat. That’s what I did, and can proceed to do this now.”

What led to the sanctions?

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The sanctions imposed upon Clark stem from a tense alternate between her and metropolis supervisor Ann Mitchell on the Aug. 21, 2023 council assembly.

At that assembly, Clark pressed Mitchell for a number of minutes when council was discussing town’s administrative reorganization. Clark argued the method adopted by town was improper.

In response, Mitchell described the mayor’s line of questioning as “an inquisition.”

“I believe that is extremely inappropriate and I’d wish to cease this dialogue proper now,” Mitchell mentioned.

“This isn’t a query interval. This can be a diatribe and I’m most likely extra offended than you’re.”

After that assembly, council voted to retain Kingsgate Legislation, an Edmonton-based regulation agency, to analyze a criticism from a council member that Clark had contravened council’s code of conduct bylaw.

‘No want for that line of questioning’

Andy McGrogan, a Medication Hat councillor, mentioned the scenario has been unlucky, however that Clark’s conduct on the assembly final summer time warranted the unprecedented sanctions.

“There was actually no want for that line of questioning,” he informed Postmedia Thursday. “I don’t need to use the phrase malicious, however it appeared to be … simply a possibility to voice her displeasure. She knew the solutions to the questions she was asking.”

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The report from Kingsgate will finally be accessible to the general public through a FOIP request, McGrogan added, however should first require redactions.

“I perceive some folks may not suppose the severity of the sanctions equate to the actions,” he mentioned. “We perceive that.

“We clearly sought authorized recommendation on the matter and have been guided via it. Once more, it goes again to the totality of the incident, and to some extent, all of us figuring out what led as much as it. The investigational report is pretty clear.”

In a press release, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs mentioned it’s conscious of the sanctions imposed on Clark, and that the Municipal Authorities Act requires each municipality in Alberta to ascertain a code of conduct bylaw.

“The Code of Conduct for Elected Officers Regulation units out necessities for the criticism system inside a code of conduct bylaw, in addition to sanctions which can be imposed for violations of a code of conduct bylaw,” the assertion learn.

“The Municipal Authorities Act doesn’t present the Minister of Municipal Affairs with any position within the adjudication of sanctions imposed by a council underneath a code of conduct bylaw.”

Medication Hat council’s subsequent common assembly is on April 8.

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