The duties and the role of the mayor or other head of an Ontario
municipal council are set out in sections 225 and 226.1 of the
Ontario Municipal Act, 2001. This includes the role of the
head to act as chief executive officer, preside over council
meetings and provide leadership to the Council.
It also involves representing the municipality at official
functions, upholding and promoting the municipality's purposes,
promoting the municipality, and supporting activities that enhance
its economic, social and environmental well-being, and that of its
residents.
What the Act doesn't do is to set out specifics as to
exactly how these responsibilities are to be performed. The mayor
or other head has only one vote at council, and no specific
entitlements or powers otherwise in terms of making or implementing
council decisions, except those delegated to him or her by the
Council.