Medicine Hat city council formally requests Alberta municipal audit

If McIver gives the order, investigators will have few limits as they sift through files and conduct interviews during a process that could take over a year.

Council voted 6-3 to ask for the audit.

Couns. McGrogan, Darren Hirsch and Robert Dumanowski argued the municipal inspection would help the city find any deep-rooted issues and provide an opportunity for a much-needed council reset.

Shila Sharps, the councillor who filed a complaint over Clark’s treatment of the city manager, claimed the administrative bylaw was violated multiple times in the past.

Clark accused City Manager Ann Mitchell of breaking that bylaw during a tense exchange in 2023 that led to a code of conduct complaint, a third-party investigation and sanctions on the mayor.

Council violated the same bylaw in January 2022 when it created public relations and chief of staff roles that reported to the mayor, Sharps said.

Mitchell, as the city’s chief employee, moved the pair to report to her as part of a broader reorganization of city hall and to align with Alberta’s Municipal Government Act.

Sharps said the alleged violation by council and mayor could be investigated as part of a provincial audit.

“It is crucial that we do address these violations,” she added before being cut off by the mayor.

Clark, as chair, interrupted Sharps several times, arguing that she was bringing forward information that not all of council had a chance to review ahead of time.

WATCH: Council discussion on the municipal inspection

Sharps was pointed in her replies, saying she had the freedom to talk about what she wanted like any other member of council.

The councillor criticized how past incidents were handled, suggesting that there was an attempt to keep information hidden that led to breaches of the code of conduct.

Sharps said she regretted not bringing the issue forward earlier, as it stirred up confusion over the roles of council and executive staff.

“Over the past three years, confusion has arisen within our community regarding the roles and responsibilities”, Sharps said.

“It’s crucial for us to clarify and stabilize the situation, not only for us, but for the next council going forward.”

Clark said Sharps’ comments made her feel the inspection was directed just at her.

“Nonetheless, an inspection could be good,” Clark told council before raising concerns she had over a potential audit’s impact.

“Have we thought about the implication to various departments, the implication to our energy division?” she asked, questioning the cost and the staff resources involved.

“I would like to know the answers to those questions before we vote on this.”

Clark asked councillors several times to push a decision to the next council meeting on Sept. 16.

While Clark failed to find widespread support, there were two councillors who voted against the proposal.

Ramona Robins, a former Crown prosecutor and one of many first-term councillors, was against voting for the audit so abruptly without knowing the costs or risks involved.

“I don’t believe an inspection is in the best interests of the citizens of Medicine Hat,” Robins said.

“It is costly, it is time-consuming and it will affect our economic evolution and I’m very, very concerned about that.”

Coun. Alison Van Dyke acknowledged the city has several outdated policies and pointed out that staff are already hard at work to update the internal structures.

“A municipal inspection would be a considerable strain and expense to our city and would have additional reputational repercussions to our broader community,” Van Dyke said.

“I’m not sure that there is anything that an inspection would reveal that would justify that cost to me and to many in our community who just want to see this council working at the governance that we were elected to do.”

WATCH: Tuesday council meeting

Mitchell, the city manager, said a municipal inspection could bring the community’s trust in city hall back.

“We need to open up our closets and restore the public trust,” Mitchell said, adding there are many “archaic” processes the city has that an audit could expose.

She also called for unity going forward.

“We have to be getting along for the greater good, all of us.”

At the beginning of Tuesday’s council meeting, Clark issued an apology for questions she asked during the contentious public exchange she had with Mitchell in 2023, appearing to fulfill a request made by councillors who sanctioned Clark earlier this year.

“I just wanted to make clear my intentions in my line of questioning were merely for me to carry out my duties as mayor of this city and not to cause hurt,” Clark said.

“However, I do recognize that my comments did cause hurt feelings around this table and I apologize for that,” the mayor concluded, to applause from the public gallery.After Clark’s statement, Mitchell gave a response.

“I will accept that apology in the manner that it’s given,” Mitchell said.

“But, I would ask that you extend the apology to the community and to everybody else in this organization, as well as myself and around this table,” she added.

There were jeers from the gallery where many of Clark’s supporters were present.

Clark used her gavel to bring residents in the gallery to silence.

“Thank you for your comments,” Clark said, before continuing on with a five-hour meeting extended by a half-hour due to the municipal inspection debate.

CHAT News contacted Minister McIver for comment.

Members of council scattered after the meeting was adjourned before midnight and were not immediately available for comment.

by Eli J. Ridder

Medicine Hat city council formally requests Alberta municipal audit

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