Cambridge mayor responds to allegations of violating council procedure

The Mayor of Cambridge took to social media to push back against allegations she violated council procedural bylaws by removing a notice of motion from the council agenda addendum.

The notice of motion was regarding a potential ban on evicting unhoused individuals in encampments during extreme weather events, like the recent heat wave.

Councillor Scott Hamilton said he was told it was the mayor who pulled the notice that was penned with fellow councillor Ross Earnshaw. Hamilton made the statement while a guest on The Mike Farwell Show on August 1. He said he started asking around after he found out the motion was not on the agenda.

“I have engaged staff and clerks through email, and they have said that it was at the mayor’s request to remove the motion from the addendum or the agenda, to provide council with more information.”

In a video posted to Facebook, Liggett refuted the allegations and shot back at Hamilton.

“This is a total misrepresentation of what happened and is disingenuous at best, coming dangerously close to political opportunism.”

The mayor went on to say she always respects motions presented by councillors.

“From the beginning of my term as mayor and my roll as head of council, I have taken the tact to not get in the way of any council members in bringing forward motions. When I have been asked I have offered advice, some taken some not.”

She then explained how the agendas are put together.

“Every week the corporate leadership team, which includes me, meet and go over agendas at least three to four months out. For efficiency purposes, we look at the items coming forward, determine whether and how many delegations might appear, especially if contentious.”

Adding, “In other words, we manage the agenda so that one week there is not a half-hour meeting and a seven hour the next council meeting.”

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Liggett then said, “When I was informed of the potential, and I repeat, the potential of a notice of motion, I directed our legal and clerks department to provide information to all council prior to the notice being placed on the floor.”

Hamilton said the notice of motion wasn’t created in a vacuum.

“Councillor Earnshaw and I met with legal services, we met with the clerks, we went through aspects of the motion that could be strengthened or improved. Clerks and legal did express some concern and some caution about the motion. Mostly due to the number of services actually involved. It’s very complex when you ever enter anything regarding unhoused persons in terms of regional responsibilities, police, bylaw, fire, legal, who can be responsible if something goes wrong.”

Hamilton went on to say that he and Earnshaw took about a week to consider the advice and decided to tone down the original request in favour of a staff report. It was the staff report request that was the heart of the notice.

Cambridge council is next set to meet on September 2.

Hamilton said he will continue to push for better outcomes for unhoused individuals.