A city councillor’s efforts to bring new leadership and reformed governance to the Hamilton Police Services Board fell short Thursday, as its incumbent chair and vice-chair were elected for another term.
At the oversight body’s first meeting of the year, Coun. Cameron Kroetsch made his case to unseat current chair Pat Mandy, arguing his governance experience would result in a more accountable, better-run board.
“I’ve been very vocal in public and clear in public about my concerns about some of the governance things that have happened (at board) over the last year,” said the Ward 2 councillor, who recently claimed the board didn’t do its due diligence in reviewing next year’s $213-million police budget.
“If I’m going to make those comments, I have to step up and put my name forward.”
The only other nominee to the leadership role was Mandy, a well-known health-care leader from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation who was first appointed to the board by the province in 2018 before taking over as chair in late 2021 when former Mayor Fred Eisenberger left the post. She argued she would bring continuity to the board, and said her experience in legislation and governance complement her understanding of pertinent policing issues.
Kroetsch, meanwhile, took aim at Mandy’s long stay on the board and noted her provincial appointment is due to expire March 31.
“I’m here to serve for the whole year, happy to do that no matter what and committed to the role.”
Citizen member Dr. Anjali Menezes — who nominated Kroetsch to be chair — echoed the councillor’s concerns about the expiration of Mandy’s provincial appointment, later saying a new face as chair could bring about greater transparency and broader perspectives at future board meetings.
“Dialogue is about sharing different perspectives, not sharing echo chambers, and I think from what I’ve witnesses there’s very an echo chamber on this board and there are very infrequently dissenting votes,” said Menezes, who was appointed to the board last November through a revamped selection process that included community voices at the hiring table.
Having a new chair wouldn’t be “about us creating havoc on the board and not being able to make decisions,” Anjali added, but rather “about us being able to broaden our perspective of what the needs of our diverse community are.”
“It’s about being transparent and demonstrating to the community that we listen, that we welcome dissenting opinions.”
Ultimately, after the incumbent chair informed board members she has applied to extend her provincial appointment, Mandy was re-elected by a vote of 5-2.
That was the same vote tally Fred Bennink received to continue on as the body’s vice-chair for another term.
Bennink, a retired business leader who is a provincial appointee on the board, beat out Menezes to retain the post. He argued his experience on the board — council first appointed him as a citizen member in 2019 — as well his strong relationship with police command and chair Mandy made him a more-than-suitable candidate to continue on in a leadership position.
Coun. Esther Pauls agreed, saying the board needs “experience” and “steady hands” given many of its members are in their first terms on the oversight body.
“And the most important thing is he has time; he goes to all of the events the police board has. I appreciate Ms. Menezes putting her name … but you are a busy woman and don’t have time really,” Pauls said.
Kroetsch, who nominated Menezes to the post, argued otherwise and said the doctor’s lack of experience on the board shouldn’t preclude her from a leadership role. In fact, he noted, it’s her experience away from the board — as a family physician, respected academic and anti-racism researcher — that should appeal to members.
“Being a new member to the board does not make you a new member to planet earth … Her resume speaks for itself frankly. I challenge anyone here to say she isn’t qualified,” Kroetsch said, adding it’s “not congruent” to have two provincial appointees in positions of leadership and none from the city.
“Folks in leadership positions here have had an opportunity and (the) experience to participate as leaders, and we ought to give opportunities to other people. I think, frankly, people should move out of the way to allow more folks into leadership positions.”
Menezes told the board being “an outsider” means she could bring “opinions from the margins” to meetings, creating broader and more diverse discussions. She said she hoped the board continues to be more transparent, regardless of was elected vice-chair.
Mandy and Bennink will serve out their terms for the next year.
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