Mayor Linnsie Clark is still unable to access certain areas of city hall due to council's remaining sanction. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

CITY HALL

Medicine Hat city council to consider resolving outstanding sanction on mayor

Jan 6, 2025 | 9:04 PM

Medicine Hat city council will start work on resolving the only outstanding sanction left lingering on Mayor Linnsie Clark from when council imposed several limits on her power last year.

Coun. Shila Sharps put forward a notice of motion at Monday’s public meeting for council to start deliberating in private, setting up those discussions to start as early as next month if councillors back the formal motion that will come in two weeks.

While a Calgary judge last September lifted most of the sanctions, she left one requiring Clark apologize to the chief administrator — an edict the mayor fulfilled in August — and sent another one limiting Clark’s access to certain parts of city hall back to council to work out.

Since March 2024, Clark has been prohibited from entering the administration area of city hall and banned from direct contact with city staff other than the city manager Ann Mitchell.

The mayor was instructed to communicate with Mitchell only by emails that must be copied to the rest of council or if the CAO agrees to meet with Clark in-person, in the presence of a councillor.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Nominations open for annual honorary Medicine Hat College degree

6h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat seeks new outdoor rink volunteers after closure complaints

Jan 13, 2025

CITY HALL

City of Medicine Hat now accepting proposals to repurpose sea cans

Jan 13, 2025

Justice Rosemary Nation found the sanction “disproportionate”, writing in her ruling that it “unreasonably restricts” Clark who, as part of her mayor duties, needs to carry out city business.

Nation decided to send the sanction back to council “to reconsider the appropriate restriction that reasonably protects the city manager but does not restrict Clark from performing her duties as mayor.”

Council had not formally addressed the remaining restriction until Monday.

“It’s been five months without this issue appearing on the agenda. I’m putting forth this motion for council to prioritize this matter by placing it on the closed agenda in the near future for immediate deliberation,” Sharps said as she announced the notice of motion.

“We frequently request administration perform various functions and reconsider decisions, and we always put timelines and ask for actions to be immediate. Our community has become frustrated with our inaction,” Sharps added.

“I know that there was no ill intention by anybody around this horseshoe, but it has gotten away from us.”

Clark told CHAT News in a year-end interview that she still felt “isolated” at city hall because she is unable to access certain areas.

“The fact that they felt the need to lock me out, rather than just trust that I would adhere to the sanctions, is, frankly, a bit demeaning,” Clark told anchor Dan Reynish in December.

Sharps, speaking to reporters after Monday’s meeting, said she would also be frustrated if she was in the mayor’s shoes and that’s why she wanted to get the process started.

“While we may not all agree with the code of conduct or Justice Nation’s decision, it is our responsibility to address this matter,” she said in her notice of motion.

“I hope to receive a second for this motion, and I trust the council will recognize the urgency of bringing this issue back for discussion.”

Sharps’ motion will come forward at council’s next regular meeting on Jan. 20. Sharps said she won’t be in the room during council discussions because she made the original code of conduct complaint.