Council-Staff Relations

A list which contains ten practical ways Mayors and Councils can support their CAO, build trust, and set the conditions for effective leadership and administration: 

• OMAA's Top 10 List.

Some information regarding support services, contemporary concepts and unique approaches for Council-Staff relations:

• The Ontario Municipal Councillor's Guide
• David Siegel, Improving Council-Staff Relations: Working Together to Build a Better Community
• Developing your own Council-Staff Relations Policy. Subsection 270(1)(2.1) of the Municipal Act, 2001 provides that a municipality shall adopt and maintain policies with respect to the relationship between members of council and the officers and employees of the municipality. Examples from municipalities of various tiers and sizes follows:
  • City of Ottawa
  • City of Peterborough
  • Region of Waterloo
  • Township of Severn
  • Township of Brock
  • County of Lambton 

Suggestions for taking different approaches to Council Orientations include the following: 

• 2018 list of consulting firms who offer external support for Council Orientation sessions. 
• Lauren Bernardi and Roy Male’s Respectful Behaviour: Council to Council and Council to Staff. This training program assists Members of Council in understanding what constitutes harassment and bullying, including sexual and gender-based harassment. Respectful Behaviour Training Outline
• 2014 list of consulting firms who offer external support for Council Orientation sessions. 2014 Strategic Planning Consultants List