Mayoral Decisions

Learn more about the Mayor's special powers and duties assigned by the province. Review mayoral decisions made under the Municipal Act. 

Strong mayor powers

The Mayor has special powers and duties under Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001, which took effect May 1, 2025. These include powers to:

  • appoint and dismiss the chief administrative officer (CAO);
  • hire and dismiss certain Town  staff (excluding the prescribed list);
  • determine the organizational structure of the Town of Tillsonburg;
  • create committees of council, assign their functions, and appoint their chairs and vice-chairs;
    • a prescribed committee consists solely of members of Council;
  • propose the Town's annual budget subject to council amendments, a Mayoral veto, and a council override process;
    • budget shall be prepared on or by February 1. If not, Council shall prepare and adopt the budget;
  • submit matters for council's consideration, or veto by-laws, if the Mayor believes it will advance a prescribed provincial priority; and
  • 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 Protection of Privacy Act. Any decisions or directions made under the Act will be posted below.

The powers and duties of the Mayor are further described in O. Reg. 530/22 and O. Reg. 580/22.

Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022

The Better Municipal Governance Act, 2022, received Royal Assent on December 8, 2022. Regarding Mayoral powers, this legislation amends the Municipal Act, 2001, to allow the Mayor to propose, and require Council to consider and vote on, certain by-laws related to prescribed Provincial Priorities (O. Reg. 580/22: Provincial Priorities). The by-law is considered passed if more than one-third of the Members of Council vote in favour of the by-law.

Review mayoral decisions made under the Municipal Act, 2001

The following is a list of decisions issued under the Part VI.1 of the Municipal Act, 2001.

Date Number Decision Overview
May 1, 2025 MDE-2025-001 Delegation for the appointment of a chief administrative officer This Mayoral decision returns to Council by delegation the powers to appoint the chief administrative officer, under the new mayoral authority within the Municipal Act.
May 6, 2025 MDE-2025-002 Delegation of the powers regarding organizational structure, including employment matters This Mayoral decision re-establishes the previous Council delegated powers to the Chief Administrative Officer, under the new mayoral authority within the Municipal Act. This includes powers to determine the organization structure of the municipality and other administrative duties, subject to the previously established limitation with the Town’s policies and by-laws.
June 16, 2025 MDE-2025-006 Delegation of the powers regarding committees This Mayoral decision returns to Council by delegation the powers to establish or dissolve committees, to appoint chairs and vice-chairs and to assign functions to committees, under the new mayoral authority within the Municipal Act. This applies to committees established under the Municipal Act that consist solely of members of the Council.

 

Date Number Decision
     

 

Review mayoral direction made under the Municipal Act, 2001

The Mayor also has the ability to direct staff to undertake research and provide advice on policies and programs of the Town or implement decisions made by the head of Council under the Act. Those decisions must also be in writing and available to the public.

Date Number Direction Overview
May 7, 2025 MDI-2025-001 Direction to staff regarding preparing the 2026 budget This Mayoral direction allows for staff to begin planning for a budget process similar to previous year’s budget timelines, with recognition of the new mayoral authorities and duties within the Municipal Act. Repealed by MDI-2025-001.
June 16, 2025 MDI-2025-002 Direction to staff regarding preparing the 2026 budget This Mayoral direction allows for staff to begin planning for a budget process similar to previous year’s budget timelines, with recognition of the new mayoral authorities and duties within the Municipal Act. This direction changes the date to table the budget to January 2, 2026. 

Town of Tillsonburg
10 Lisgar Ave,
Tillsonburg, Ontario
N4G 5A5
Phone: 519-688-3009
Fax: 519-688-0759
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