File Photo - Dryden Mayor Jack Harrison
The mayor of Dryden admits he was surprised his municipality was included in the most recent announcement regarding Strong Mayors.
Jack Harrison says there are seven new powers he could execute but doesn’t think it’s necessary.
“I must say throughout my career I’ve always tried to follow the ancient proverb ‘There’s wisdom in the council of many’, and I have no intention of deviating from that,” Harrison told city council this week.
Harrison says the new powers allow him to hire or fire the city’s CEO, create new committees and approve the budget.
But he doesn’t think his community needs the new powers of the mayor.
“I see no good reason to concentrate this power in the mayor’s role. Therefore, I’m satisfied with the status quo, which is, it remains a council decision.”
Dryden was one of 169 municipalities to be given strong mayor powers including Kenora, Sioux Lookout, and Fort Frances in northwestern Ontario.
