I am a Mayor/Head of Council…

Congratulations!? We are grateful to all of you who have stepped up to the plate and chosen to be a Leader for your community. These are tough shoes to fill, and the role can be both incredibly rewarding and in the same breath extremely challenging.

Being a Leader requires you to put the well-being and interests of the Community first and foremost.

As a Leader, you play a key role in informing and making recommendations to the rest of Council respecting the governance of the Municipality. You have been elected at large, by over 50% of those in your community who made the effort to come out to support you, to represent the entire Community and act in its best interests.

Governing, by all of Council acting as one body, involves deciding on which services the municipality will provide and the ongoing development and evaluation of its programs and policies. Council, again acting as one body (by bylaw or resolution), ensures that the administration has the resources to, and implements, the decisions of Council. It is also Council’s role to ensure transparency and accountability in the municipality’s operations and the activities of senior staff. Again, to be clear, this is not carried out by individual members of Council, unless acting at the direction of all of Council. This includes you, as the spokesperson and Head of Council.

Being the legislated CEO of the municipality simply means you will uphold and promote its purposes, promote public involvement in its activities, act as the representative (spokesperson) both internally and externally, and participate in and foster activities that enhance the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the municipality and its residents. Keep in mind, in Canada overall, it does not make you the “sole decision-maker”, the “promise-keeper”.

But… What makes YOU a Great Mayor/Head of Council?

YOU are trustworthy, honest, ethical, and compassionate.

YOU have a passion for making positive change while supporting the good that already exists.

YOU are able to negotiate and work with others to come to create and execute policies that will enable their community to thrive.

YOU have a vision for your community that encourages collaboration and public involvement.

YOU understand how vital economic development is to your region and embrace new ideas while understanding and educating yourself on what makes your economy tick.

YOU are able to effectively communicate tough decisions that aren’t always popular with everyone.

YOU are proud and supportive of your Community, your Council’s decisions, and the hard work of your Staff.

The Foundations of Good Governance Include…

• Desire to Serve as Opposed to the Desire to Only Serve Oneself
• Respect for the Municipal Level of Government
• Understanding the Difference Between Governance and Administration/Operations.
• Developing and adopting/ the Right Policies
• Having a Vision/Plan
• Hiring the Right Senior Administrator who will hire the right People and
• Giving Staff the Support to Acquire the Right Tools
• Engaging Citizens
• Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

The Key Issues We See…

• Divided Council
• Councillors not respecting the Mayor/Head of Council
• Members of Council Speaking Badly About Each Other
• Poor Council/Staff Relations
• Council Wants to Fire the Senior Administrator
• Allegations of Workplace Harassment
• Multiple Staff Resignations/Stress Leaves
• Micromanagement by Council or the Senior Administrator
• Negative Press
• Multiple Complaints to the Integrity Commissioner

The More Specific Problems/Dysfunctions…

• Lack of Respect Between Members of Council
• Unwillingness to Accept the Decisions of Council
• Unwillingness to Respect the Role of Council / Officers /Staff
• Personal Agendas
• Lack of Self-Awareness
• Poor Communication
• Misunderstanding of Council’s and Mayor’s roles
• Hiring of a Senior Administrator Who is Not the Right Fit
• Hiring a Senior Administrator Who Understands their Role and Council’s Role?
• Poor Performance Management Practices
• Lack of Focus (no Council Term Plan or Community Strategic Plan)
• Informal (Illegal) Council “Meetings”
• Poor or Non-Existent Policies/Failure to Follow Policies
• Inability to Adapt to Change – Our world and how we do things is rapidly changing. Communities that do not adapt to this change will be less likely to thrive……

How We Work with Municipalities….

E4m’s network of municipal and other professionals who apply their skills and expertise in providing the following, which are customized according to the specific needs, resources, and aspirations of the Municipality:

• Modernization/Go Forward Strategies
• Administrative/Organizational Reviews
• Council Term & Strategic Planning
• Training and Workshops
• Rent-a-Professional (Clerk/Treasurer/CAO) Services
• Policy Bylaw Drafting/Workshops
• Coaching, Mentorship/Training for Members of Council and Municipal Employees
• Wellness Coaching/Program Development
• Conflict Resolution/Risk Assessments
• Leadership & “Team” Building
• Employee Recruitment Support
• Workplace Investigations
• Integrity Commissioner Services
• Public Education

E4m is able to provide comprehensive services through our connection with an extensive network of municipal experts based here in Ontario.

It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.
~ Nelson Mandela