New Council Members

From left to right Councillor Joseph Opato, Councillor Micheline Hatfield, Mayor Melanie Pilon, Councillor Cathy Cannon, Councillor Jim Hoffmann

Meet your elected officials for the Municipality of Wawa.

Our municipal Council consists of the Mayor and four Councillors who are elected every four years. Council, along with a variety of Boards and Committees govern the Municipality of Wawa.

Council of the Municipality of Wawa recognizes that it is responsible to provide good government for its stakeholders in an accountable and transparent manner.


Municipal LogoMUNICIPALITY OF WAWA MAYOR PILON ATTENDS 2023 AMO CONFERENCE

  Press Release: August 23, 2023

 

Wawa Mayor Melanie Pilon is joining more than 2,000 municipal representatives at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario's 2023 AMO Conference in London this week, from August 20 to 23. The 2023 AMO Conference brings municipal leaders together with the Ontario government following a year of many legislative changes, some intended to tackle the province’s housing crisis.

The annual conference is an opportunity for municipal officials to work together on solutions to today’s big challenges, to learn, and to create new opportunities that benefit our communities. Learning sessions cover a wide range of topics, including housing, women’s leadership, AMO’s partnership with Ontario’s public colleges, electronic permitting, municipal risk and liability, infrastructure investment, and Mayor Pilon is attending a Northern Women Mayor’s Caucus to hear how other small municipalities are dealing with the many challenges facing communities in Northern Ontario.  

Photo of Mayor Melanie Pilon
While attending AMO, Mayor Pilon was highlighted in a video segment shown to all delegates promoting AMO’s Healthy Democracy Project. Wawa’s Mayor is working with other experienced professionals in the Project which aims to attract more diverse candidates to municipal council positions.  The project will promote greater civic engagement, greater awareness of the role of municipal government, and will encourage increased voter turnout.

To view the video featuring Mayor Pilon, go to the you-tube link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QghTFt7qjI

For further information contact:

Maury O’Neill, CAO-Clerk

moneill@wawa.cc

www.wawa.cc


Role of Council

Section 224 of the Municipal Act, 2001, outlines the role of the municipal council:

It is the role of council,

  • to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality
  • to develop and evaluate the policies and programs of the municipality
  • to determine which services the municipality provides
  • to ensure that administrative policies, practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council (4.1) to ensure the accountability and transparency of the operations of the municipality, including the activities of the senior management of the municipality
  • to maintain the financial integrity of the municipality and
  • to carry out the duties of council under this or any other act.”

Municipal councils have a broad range of responsibilities and work load. For this reason, councils often have several standing committees consisting of councillors, or advisory committees made up of a mix of councillors and appointees from the public. These committees carry out much of the work of council and then report back to council with recommendations.

A Committee of Council is subject to similar legislative requirements that council is subject to under the act. (e.g.: open meetings, procedure bylaw, etc.)

Role of the Councillor

Councillors have a representative, policy-making, and stewardship role to play in the municipality. Councillors will consider and make decisions on issues that will sometimes be complex and controversial. Most of those decisions will have long-term consequences for the municipality that extend beyond the four-year term of office, and should be made in the context of the municipality's directions for the long-term health and welfare of the community.

Municipality of Wawa Housing Pledge

 

Council Remuneration