Medicine Hat Mayor Linnsie Clark has been severely restricted in her role by council that says she broke its code of conduct. (CHAT News)

By Eli J. Ridder | @EliRidder

Medicine Hat mayor stripped of powers after council finds wrongdoing

Mar 21, 2024 | 5:12 PM

Medicine Hat city council on Thursday severely limited the powers and duties of Mayor Linnsie Clark after finding she broke code of conduct rules over her treatment of the city manager during a meeting last year, a set of sanctions Clark called disproportionate.

READ MORE: External law firm to probe formal complaint between city council members

Council voted 7-0 during a special meeting to accept the findings of a third-party investigation carried out by Kingsgate Legal dated Feb. 27 that was spurred by a complaint filed by a member of council last year.

The complaint was related to a tense back-and-forth at an August 2023 meeting between Clark and city manager Ann Mitchell about a corporate reorganization Clark felt was done without following the proper process.

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Council found Clark in breach of the city’s code of conduct bylaw by failing to treat the city manager with courtesy, dignity and respect during the exchange.

Then councillors voted to implement a series of eight sanctions on the mayor and appoint a replacement to chair council meetings and attend the Administration Committee.

(CHAT News Graphic)

Clark, who as mayor is the only full-time council member, will no longer be the official representative of the city after the sanctions approved Thursday.

Along with a 50 per cent pay cut, Mayor Clark is barred from chairing meetings of council or the administrative committee that sets agendas.

Clark is also not allowed to interact with city staff outside of council meetings and must only communicate with Mitchell by email.

READ MORE: The exchange that spurred an investigation into Clark

Clark said she disagreed with council’s actions.

“I fundamentally disagree with the decision of council,” Clark said in a statement to CHAT News later on Thursday.

“I find council’s sanction shocking and absolutely disproportionate. I am reviewing my legal options and expect to be in a position to provide a further public response after I have done so.”

Clark said she ran on a platform of change for Medicine Hat residents who were concerned about administrative overreach and poor governance at City Hall and added she still stands by those principles.

An attempt last fall by Medicine Hat residents to remove Clark through a recall petition was unsuccessful.

The third-party investigation will be released by the city after it goes through a legally-mandated redaction process, officials said.

Coun. Shila Sharps, who apparently filed the complaint, was not present at the meeting or any of the closed sessions that took place earlier this week.

(Kevin Kyle/CHAT News)

Coun. Andy McGrogan, who chaired Thursday’s special meeting in place of deputy mayor Allison Knodel, said council will continue to operate.

“The mayor’s only one vote,” McGrogan told reporters after the eight-minute meeting.

“There’s still lots that can be done, we intend on moving all of our business forward.”

‘A strong action’

Council’s move to strip the mayor’s powers sends a message, said Paul Salvatore, CEO and founder of Municipal Experts Inc.

“What you see here is definitely a strong action on the part of council to curtail certain behavior,” Salvatore told CHAT News.

“But, it also sets the tone for the expectations that council have for each other around the table,” he added.

“It identifies and underscores the importance of respect across the board, whether that be with members of council or members of administration.”

As for those who may see the sanctions against Clark as politically-motivated, Salvatore said it appeared the city made every step possible to make it clear the process was fair, including a third-party, independent investigation.

City council will meet next on Monday for a committee-of-the-whole meeting regarding the next two-year budget.