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 Aylmer;
- 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 some of these specific powers and duties, with limitations prescribed in the legislation.
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 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.
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.
Decisions about the organizational structure of the Town
| Date | Number | Decision | Overview |
| May 12, 2025 | MDE-2025-01 | To Delegate to the Chief Administrative Officer the powers to determine the organization structure of the municipality and other administrative duties. | 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. |
| May 12, 2025 | MDE-2025-02 | To form the existing Committees of Council under Section 284. | This Mayoral decision re-establishes the previously existing committees of Council under the new mayoral authority within the Municipal Act. |
| May 12, 2025 | MDE-2025-03 | To Delegate to Council the powers to appoint the 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. |
Decisions about by-laws and vetos
Inidivudal veto decisions will be listed here. There are currently no vetos.
The Town of Aylmer and Mayor Jack Couckuyt are adopting the practice providing written notice of not excerising the power to veto and proving written approval of each by-law. The following clause is being added to Town of Aylmer By-Laws:
By signing this by-law on this, Mayor Couckuyt will not exercise the power to veto this by-law and Mayor Couckuyt is providing written approval of the by-law as the head of Council to the municipality.
Written approval with Council approved by-laws can be found here, and will be posted with the legislated timelines and requirements: Civicweb By-Laws Folder
Direction to municipal employees
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.
| Date | Number | Decision | Overview |
| May 12, 2025 | MDI-2025-01 | To direct the Chief Administrative Officer and Town Treasurer to prepare a draft proposed annual budget for 2026. | 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. |
Archived Decisions
Aylmer’s Civicweb Public Document Repository stores all Mayoral Decision, including inactive and archived decisions. Mayoral Decisions are retained permenantly being designated under the Town’s classication for By-Laws.
Contact Town of Aylmer
Mayor Jack Couckuyt
46 Talbot Street West, Aylmer, ON N5H 1J7
519-773-3164 Ext. 4903
Email
Director of Legislative Services/ Clerk
46 Talbot Street West, Aylmer, ON N5H 1J7
519-773-3164 Ext. 4913
Email