Rideau Lakes council vote to overturn Mayor Hoogenboom's veto failed May 28. Grant Deme photo
The drama continues as the province has weighed in over the use of strong mayor powers by Rideau Lakes Mayor Arie Hoogenboom.
In May, Hoogenboom invoked strong mayor powers to veto a council decision which would’ve seen a potential municipal office build in Chantry project be put out to tender.
It’s since drawn a testy debate in the public and across the already divided council table, leading to a subsequent vote to have the mayor’s veto overturn, which failed by one vote.
In an interview with CBC, Hoogenboom said he had spoken with the province and was told he was “well within,” his authority to impose the strong mayor powers, claiming he had discussions “through the MPP office, Mr. (Steve) Clark.”
However, the MPP of Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes responded on June 3rd, saying no such conversation took place.
“Mayor Arie Hoogenboom’s comments that my office provided advice regarding the use of strong mayor powers is categorically false,” Clark wrote in a statement.
“It is not the role of an MPP’s office to provide guidance to municipal officials. I encourage him to do the honourable thing and immediately retract his untruthful comments.”
Council passed a motion last week to have staff pursue their legal options against Hoogenboom’s use of strong mayor powers.
They’ve also requested staff to collect all information Hoogenboom received surrounding new potential offices being built in Elgin, after the mayor made comments in the media in support of exploring that idea, claiming it’s cheaper than retrofitting the existing offices.
This week, Hoogenboom used strong mayor powers for a second time, ordering staff to keep records of council votes and integrity complaints.
Story by Grant Deme