Strathmore Mayor censured

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Strathmore Council called an emergency council meeting to officially censure Mayor Michael Ell under the Municipal Government Act and the Strathmore Code of the Ethics on Oct. 29.
“It has been determined by Strathmore Town Council that Mayor Michael Ell has over the past year committed a series of breaches of the Town of Strathmore Mayor and Councilor Code of Ethics and Conduct Policy and the statutory obligations set out in the Municipal Government Act, R.S.A. 2000 Chapter M-26, with respect to communication with town administration and staff, councilor involvement in the town’s administrative functions. The Mayor’s conduct has created significant concerns for both town administration and council,” said Deputy Mayor Pat Fule.
Councillor Rocky Blokland and Councillor Denise Peterson gave comment at the meeting. The video feed can be seen on the Town of Strathmore website.
“It is important for us as councilors, our CAO and Deputy CAO,” said Blockland. “Mayor and council are bound by rules and regulations governed by the MGA, Mayor and Council Code of Ethics and Conduct policy and council procedural policy. Sometimes, as in life, we stray from these guidelines and cross that line at which point a correction and an intervention has to take place. Today council has used this option at this meeting to enforce and correct the issues. It’s important to know is council’s extreme united desire to move forward as a team, with our CAO and Deputy CAO to do what’s best for Strathmore, which is why we are all here in the first place.”
There were no specifics given in the meeting, as to what Ell did other than implying interactions and communication with council, town staff the CAO and Deputy CAO needed improvement. Many of the attendees at the meeting wanted more information than what was stated in the motion.
Ell said that there were no skeletons in the closet. He didn’t see how making the specifics public at this time would create a positive atmosphere. He said he would rather get on with town business.
“I will do my best to work within the parameters set by council,” said Ell. “If there are misunderstandings or misinterpretations, we need to work together to clear them up and go forward.”
Ell will continue to sit in on all council meetings, retain his vote, and continue with his duties as mayor both in the office and the community.
Council set terms for Mayor Ell to follow, which include adhering to the Municipal Government Act and the Strathmore Mayor and Councilor Code of Ethics and Conduct Policy, to have no interaction or communication with town staff without CAO or Deputy CAO approval, not to interfere in the administrative functions of the town and not to communicate with the CAO without council direction, unless the communication occurs within the context of a council or council committee meeting.
“The terms will present difficulties in conducting my role and duties and the situation doesn’t shed a good light on the town,” said Ell. “I want to resolve this and move forward.”
According to Jerry Ward, public relations spokesman from Municipal Affairs in Edmonton, censure is set by council as a motion and can be taken off again by a motion in council. The censure could last for the mayor’s entire term if council wishes. They are allowed to set the terms and to lift the censure. Council need not contact the Alberta government indicating they have censured the mayor.