Based on what I can see of the Municipal Act and my observation, the head of council (in our case the mayor) has little formal power granted to him. He promotes and represents the City. The mayor only gets one vote, and while he chairs the council meetings that only gives him limited influence over the decision making power of council. Mayors (and honestly any elected politician) need to use influencing skills. Our mayor derives a certain amount of power from the fact that he was elected to that office but officially no "special" powers are granted to him as mayor. He has to work with Council to get things done. It seems to me to bit a delicate balance because the public perception, I think, is that a mayor has power to make decisions and control council. The reality is not as clear cut. Definitely not an easy job.
You're so right - a delicate balance. He does have to work with Council! He only has one voice but he is perceived as the one to blame when Council can't get its act together. What about Pickering's mayor - is he effective? What is public perception?
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