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Strong Mayor Powers
Mayoral Powers, Decisions, and Directions
As of May 1, 2025 the Province of Ontario announced that Strong Mayor Powers are being extended to the Town of Cobourg. The Province’s expectation is that municipalities will use these powers to support provincial priorities and help communities grow. Priorities include supporting the construction of new homes, economic development and building infrastructure that supports community growth, including housing-enabling infrastructure like water and wastewater infrastructure, we well as roads, highways, transit and more.
Mayoral powers under the Municipal Act
Under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, the Mayor has the following special powers and duties as the head of Town Council:
- Appointing the municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer.*
- Hiring certain municipal department heads and establishing and reorganizing departments.*
- Creating committees of Council, assigning their functions and appointing the chairs and vice-chairs of committees of Council.*
- Proposing the municipal budget, which would be subject to Council amendments and a Mayoral veto and Council override process.
- Vetoing certain bylaws if the Mayor is of the opinion that all or part of the by-law could potentially interfere with a provincial priority.
- Bringing forward matters for Council consideration if the Mayor is of the opinion that considering the matter could potentially advance a provincial priority. The by-law is considered passed if more than one-third of the Members of Council vote in favour of the by-law.
- Direct Town Staff in writing.
*The Mayor may choose to delegate these specific powers and duties.
The Mayor is required to exercise these powers in writing and make them available to the public, subject to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protections of Privacy Act. A public listing of Mayoral Decisions and Directions is available in the chart below.
Educational Tools to Understand Strong Mayor Powers
Mayor Cleveland would like to advise residents and local business owners that applications are being accepted for the Community Led Task Force.
Under the authority of Part VI.1 (Special Powers and Duties of Head of Council) of the Municipal Act, 2001 Sections 284.3 & 284.4 (Direction to Employees) Mayor Cleveland has directed the development of a Community Led Task Force (Task Force) that will review financial options and provide community driven recommendations regarding the 2026 Operating and Capital Budget.
Mayor Cleveland has directed that the Town of Cobourg enter into an Independent Consultation Agreement with Cobourg resident, David Dexter, who will lead the Task Force. “I could not think of a better way to use the Strong Mayor Powers granted by the province, than to give authority back to a committee to recommend budget strategies and financial options,” says Mayor, Lucas Cleveland. “As a resident with over 30 years of experience working in the public sector, I know David will do well leading this Task Force to identify financial options for Council’s consideration.”
“I am grateful to Mayor Cleveland for creating this unique opportunity for committee community input. I look forward to using my experience working within municipal government to help facilitate important discussions, and recommendations, for positive change for our residents,” says David Dexter, Community Led Task Force Consultant.
The Community Led Task Force will meet during August and September. The final report from the Task Force is to be provided to Mayor Cleveland by Mr. Dexter in October and will help inform the draft 2026 Operating and Capital Budget.
How to Apply for the Community Led Task Force:
Applications are no longer being accepted.
2026 Budget Schedule:
As per the Mayor’s directives, the 2026 Operating and Capital Budget will be informed by staff and community recommendations:
· Staff are actively preparing a draft 2026 Operating and Capital Budget as per previous budget cycles to be presented by November 1, 2025. Mayor Cleveland has set a target levy not to exceed 5% before growth
· The Mayor will engage with Town of Cobourg CAO, Treasurer and Directors to generate the Final Draft 2026 Operating and Capital Budget using both staff and Task Force recommendations.
· Using the Final Draft 2026 Operating and Capital Budget, Town staff will launch a community engagement program to gather community input and feedback on the recommended directions for 2026. Community feedback will be provided to the Mayor for consideration of the Final Draft 2026 budget.
· The proposed Final Draft 2026 Operating and Capital Budget will be provided to each Member of Council, the Town Clerk, by December 1, 2025 and no later than December 15, 2025 for final review and discussion.
Contact Us
Town of Cobourg
55 King Street West
Cobourg, ON K9A 2M2
Phone: 905-372-4301
Toll Free: 1-888-972-4301
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