City of St. Thomas

About St. Thomas City Council

St. Thomas City Council is comprised of eight Councillors plus the Mayor. All council members are elected by the 'at large' system, whereby councillors are elected on a citywide basis, with each voter casting a ballot for multiple council candidates. 

Regular meetings of the Council are held in the Council Chambers on the first, second and third Monday of each month at 5:00 p.m. local time, unless otherwise ordered by a resolution of the Council, or unless such day be a public holiday, in which case the Council shall meet on the next following day not being a public holiday. Council will be holding meetings in person and via Zoom. Meetings held via Zoom will be archived on the City website the day following the meetings.

The Council may hold only one regular meeting during each of the months of July and August. Summer meeting dates for 2024 are July 15th, 2024 and August 12th, 2024.

Copies of the Minutes and Agendas for all council meetings are available online.

The administrative structure is served by a City Manager and Leadership Team comprised of all the major Department Heads. The Team meets two times monthly or more often as required. This Team through the Departments executes Council policy and makes recommendations on items referred to it by Council. 

City Council - Role and Responsibilities

The Members of Council upon being elected make the prescribed declaration of office and oath of allegiance. It is the duty of Council to attend all meetings of the Council and of such Committees of the Council and of the local boards and commission to which the Council appoints them, except as they may be properly excused. The Municipal Act 2001, section 224, states these roles for 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 practices and procedures and controllership policies, practices and procedures are in place to implement the decisions of council;
• 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.