Ian Boddy. *supplied image)
Owen Sound’s mayor is leaving the city’s police services board.
Council passed a motion during Monday’s meeting to amend the city’s board and committee bylaw to permit the change, and appointed Coun. Marion Koepke to serve on the Owen Sound Police Services Board in Boddy’s place until the end of the current council term in November 2026.
Boddy has sat on the police services board for 11 years. He says his decision to step aside relates to strong mayor powers the Ford government extended to most municipalities — including Owen Sound — this past spring.
The municipal budget process has been overhauled in strong mayor municipalities. Instead of having a staff or council initiated budget process, the mayor is responsible for proposing a budget, which is then presented to council. There are also strict timelines tied to the new budget process, and the ability for the mayor and council to use veto powers at different stages.
A report to council also talks about the Police Services Board budget’s relationship with the new strong mayor powers. It says the mayor is responsible for proposing the number allocated to the police board, but neither the mayor or council have the power to approve specific items in police budget estimates.
“I’m concerned about the perceived conflict (of interest) of voting for a budget, and then having the mayor’s budget. And having to determine it and trying to wear two different hats,” Boddy explains about his decision to step down from the police board.
Koepke was appointed by unanimous vote to fill the seat vacated by Boddy on the Owen Sound Police Services Board.