City Council

Eligibility general requirements

To be a candidate for any position on Moncton City Council a person must be:

• 18 years of age on or before election day
• a Canadian citizen
• a resident of the province and the municipality for at least 40 days before election day [Municipal Elections Act, section 13(1)] 

*a person is not qualified to be nominated as a candidate for councillor for a ward unless 
he/she is a resident of that ward when he/she is nominated - Municipal Elections Act (Section 18) 

General responsibilities

In the case of the Mayor and councillors-at-large, all candidates who run for council in these roles are elected by eligible voters of the entire community. All eligible voters may cast their votes for their preferred candidates running for the allotted council seats and for the mayoral position. Those candidates who receive the highest number of votes win the available seats on the Council. 

The Mayor and councillors-at-large are responsible for and are required to respond to, the issues and concerns of the entire community.

Ward councillors are primarily responsible for the needs of citizens living in the geographical area of the ward in which they are elected. While their wards are their primary concern, they are expected to participate and take into consideration the needs of the entire city during Council deliberations. 

Mayor

Duties and responsibilities of the Mayor

The Local Governance Act outlines, in general terms, the roles and responsibilities of the Mayor:

48(1)The mayor of a local government shall:

1. preside at all meetings of council, except as provided for otherwise in a procedural by-law 
   made under paragraph 10(2)(a) or in a municipal charter or a private or special Act,
2. provide leadership to council,
3. communicate information and recommend actions to council for the improvement of the 
   local government’s finances, administration and government,
4. speak on issues of concern to the local government on behalf of council, and
5. perform any other duties conferred on him or her by this or any other Act or by council.

In order to effectively carry out these duties, the Mayor should demonstrate the following: 

Leadership

The Mayor facilitates a team approach among Council members and between the Council and the administration. This includes:

• serving as moderator among Council members and the municipal administration
• proactively managing meetings to ensure timeframes are respected, expectations are clear and proper preparation is facilitated
• encouraging and motivating councillors and staff to serve the community in the most effective and efficient manner possible
• leading Council to be accountable for Council-related policies
• working and communicating with Council members to foster and move toward a common vision for the local government they serve
• communicating information and recommend actions to Council for the improvement of the municipality’s finances, administration, and government
• taking the lead in addressing issues affecting the manner in which Council is functioning, including intervention if a Council member or member of the public behaves in an inappropriate manner
• performing duties with integrity, honesty, and respect always ensuring to be inclusive, open-minded, and collaborative

Awareness of the community

The Mayor must understand the community, its issues and concerns, and conveys the will of the Council to the public, whether or not the Mayor has actually supported the decision of Council. 

• while the Mayor does have a special role in the local government organization, it is the Council, as a whole, that is the decision-making body
• awareness is built by attending various events in the community and interacting with a wide variety of citizens. Typical events include: school visits, meeting with developers, meeting with concerned citizens groups, delivering greetings, attending business openings, speaking to a variety of community groups

Presides at meetings

Acting as the chief moderator:

• maintaining order and ensuring proper meeting procedures are followed
• working closely with the CAO/clerk to ensure that all of the relevant information is presented and ultimately that the best and most informed decisions are made. 

Communicates/represents

The Mayor is the primary liaison with the administration of the local government by: 

• interacting on a daily basis with the chief administrative officer and the city clerk
• speaking to the media and general public on behalf of Council regarding adopted resolutions
• ensuring that Council’s decisions are open, transparent, and communicated in a timely, accessible, and understandable manner
• liaising with other governments: municipal/regional (ex. Atlantic Mayors’ Congress, Tri-Community, Tri-City, Cities of NB, in Moncton and all over the province); provincial (local representatives, but also all ministers, in Moncton and Fredericton); or federal (Moncton and Ottawa). The Mayor (or designated Council member) has an obligation to keep the Council informed of all official activities (monthly activity reports)
• being open, accessible, and accountable like all other members of Council, and using appropriate tools to engage the public, such as social media, public “state of the city”  forums, speaking engagements with community groups such as Probus, Rotary, Business and Professional Women, Press Clubs, etc.

Representation on committees/boards

The Mayor may act in an ex-officio or voting capacity, as required, on many committees, created by Council as well as numerous boards, commissions or associations.

Ceremonial role

• participation in a variety of ceremonial activities
• unless absent from the municipality, the Mayor will generally represent the municipality at ceremonies however may allow for other members of Council to represent them. This includes activities such as flag-raisings to celebrate different cultural festivities, meeting with ambassadors from around the world, meeting with official delegations, etc. 

Oversight role

• liaising with the CAO/city clerk, to ensure that Council’s directives and or policies are being followed and/or implemented
• attending and providing input and direction into the weekly agenda-setting process
• ensuring that strategic priorities are being acted upon in all areas of municipal governance i.e. budgets, policy development etc.
• the Mayor may provide his or her point of view during a council meeting and can engage in the debate
• must vote on items before Council
• may recommend actions to Council for the improvement of the local government’s finances, administration, and government.

Key signing authority

The key signatory along with the city clerk on behalf of the municipality and must:

• sign all legal contracts, agreements, deeds and other documents to which the municipality is a party (can be more than 100 per week)
• receive authority by either council by-law or resolution before signing any of the aforementioned documents on behalf of the municipality

Voting powers

Unless disqualified to vote by reason of interest or otherwise, all members of Council, including the Mayor, must announce their vote openly and individually when making decisions. 

Other functions

The Mayor may also have responsibilities assigned to them via the municipality’s procedural by-law or by way of policies adopted by resolution of Council such as:

• calling meetings or emergency meetings of Council
• participating in agenda review meetings
• nominating of Council members and citizens to committees, boards, and commissions
• recommending citizen nominations to committees and boards

Community leader

• the Mayor is seen as the leader in the community and must always be aware that they are representing all citizens
• leadership role is one of connector, facilitator, listener
• must be “open for business” and this means meeting with developers and investors, in Moncton and elsewhere, pitching Moncton as an excellent place to live, work, play, and stay
• must be out and about, learning about challenges and opportunities of citizens and businesses
• liaison with various service clubs, diplomatic organizations, other provincial governments
• liaison with provincial departments and community institutions
• promotion agent to encourage citizen engagement and civic participation
• leadership role during a crisis in the community
• be in front of efforts to obtain equitable treatment for all citizens on municipal matters

Deputy Mayor

Duties and responsibilities of the Deputy Mayor

The Deputy Mayor is an elected city councillor (ward or at-large) elected by Moncton City Council annually to act as the chief elected official (the Mayor) when the chief elected official is unable to perform their duties, or in the event the office is vacant.

• must be available to replace Mayor when required
• will be compensated accordingly
• in consultation with the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor may explore a special area of interest in alignment with established strategic priorities that they may pursue during their time in office

City councillor

Duties and responsibilities of a city councillor (ward or at-large)

The Local Governance Act outlines, in general terms, the roles and responsibilities of councillors:

Section 48(6) - A councillor of a local government shall:

1. consider the welfare and interests of the entire local government when making decisions,
2. bring to the attention of council matters that may promote the welfare or interests of the 
   local government,
3. participate in developing and evaluating the policies and programs of the local government,
4. participate in meetings of council, council committees and any other body to which he or 
   she is appointed by council, and
5. perform any other duties conferred on him or her by this or any other Act or by council.

In order to effectively carry out these duties, a councillor should:

Serve the interests of the community - As stated in legislation, a councillor shall consider the welfare and interests of the municipality when making decisions and bring to the attention of Council matters that may promote the welfare or interests of the municipality.

• participates in one or more committees addressing an item of interest to the entire City of Moncton
• serves as a City of Moncton liaison with the board or leadership of one or more community organizations that involves the entire City of Moncton
• informs Council of any conflict of interest in accordance with the conflict of interest provisions of the Local Governance Act 

Develop and evaluate policies, by-laws - As part of the decision-making role, council members must take the time to evaluate and review the local government’s by-laws, policies, and agreements to ensure they continue to reflect community needs. Setting policy direction involves engaging in debate, providing input and ideas on programs, by-laws, and policies and making decisions through the voting process at Council meetings. 

• communicates to residents regarding any by-law or policy changes that will have a significant impact on their ward or the entire community, as well as identify a communication channel for residents who wish to provide input on the matter
• participates in provincial or national organizations and working groups on issues related to policies or by-laws

Attend Council and committee meetings – A councillor’s attendance at, and active participation in, Council meetings are required by legislation and are crucial if a local government is to work effectively. Council meetings provide the opportunity for sharing information, debate, consensus-building, and ultimately, the making of decisions.

• strive to attend 70 per cent of Council meetings, unless the absence is due to illness or representing the City at another function
• strive to attend 70 per cent of City of Moncton committee meetings for which the councillor is a committee member
• encourage residents to consult Council and/or committee minutes via the City of Moncton website, except those that are confidential

Represent the community - Councillors also serve to represent the broad interests of the community and as such, should bring these to the attention of Council. There are decisions that Council members will make that will unavoidably be unpopular. If Council members can remember that they were elected to make decisions that are in the best interests of the whole community (both short and long term), it will help when difficult decisions have to be made.

• participating on committees or boards of community organizations
• attending events within Moncton to represent the City of Moncton
• representing the City of Moncton at provincial, national, or international events
• communicating with individuals at other levels of government on behalf of the concerns of residents within a councillor’s ward or within the City as a whole 

Financial oversight - In establishing the budget and subsequent tax rate, councillors must adhere to municipal accounting principles and financial policies when determining how a municipality will allocate its funds. Working with administrative staff, they must constantly assess needs in determining the level of services to bring to residents/businesses of the community.

• participating in the capital budget process
• participating in the operating budget process
• communicating with and consulting residents regarding issues and concerns related to the budgeting processes
• participating in activities to improve the economic development of the City of Moncton

Conflict resolution – Differences of opinion amongst councillors and residents are a normal and healthy part of the decision-making process. To ensure that a thorough and fair process has been followed before reaching a final decision, councillors are expected to listen to and respect other’s opinions on the issue, to review all administrative research, advice and options, as well as any policy and budgetary consequences, before voting on the matter.

• presenting issues of concern to residents to Council for consideration
• facilitating access to the process to address Council or City staff for residents with issues of concern
• working with other councillors to address issues of conflict between wards and communicating the issues and efforts at resolution to residents

Other functions - From time to time, councillors will be assigned other duties or take on other projects during their time in office. This may range from sitting on specific committees to representing the community at a particular function where the mayor or deputy mayor is unable to attend. Councillors also have a legislated obligation to participate in any other body to which he or she has been appointed by the Council.

• providing a monthly or quarterly communications update to residents on key issues and the councillor’s actions related to Council
• participating in activities to increase the positive reputation of the City of Moncton, or to encourage residents to participate in activities beneficial to the City
• encouraging residents to participate in the democratic activities in the City of Moncton, including voting, committees, planning and other civic initiatives 

These activities provide a GENERAL FRAMEWORK which can be used to evaluate a councillor’s performance, but must be considered in the context of that councillor’s skills and abilities as well as any extenuating circumstances that may impact performance while remaining beyond the councillor’s control.