Council Suspends City Manager, Calls for Investigation

Medicine Hat city manager Ann Mitchell is being suspended with pay following a special council meeting on Monday.

(File photo)

“The city manager (will) be placed on a temporary paid leave of absence during which time she delegate her powers, duties and functions to the city clerk,” stated a notice posted Tuesday on the municipality’s website.

Monday’s special meeting was the second since Friday.

This week’s meeting was not publicly announced nor agenda provided on the city’s website. Friday’s meeting featured one item on the agenda, a personnel matter, which was discussed during a closed session.

However, the city is indicating the two meetings were connected.

“Council held a special meeting on July 25, 2025 to discuss a personnel matter and sought legal advice over the weekend. On July 28, 2025, Council held another special meeting to discuss a personnel matter,” according to the city release announcing the city manager’s suspension.

The notice also indicates Mayor Linnsie Clark, deputy mayor Coun. Shila Sharps along with acting mayor Alison Van Dyke have been authorized to retain and instruct an investigator.

The meeting was held in accordance with the Municipal Government Act (MGA), according to the city, despite the session not including public agenda notice while including a public session. According to the MGA, everyone has a right to be present at council meetings and council committee meetings conducted in public unless the person chairing the meeting expels a person for improper conduct.

Two motions passed during the open session, one involving the retention of an investigator with the other placing Mitchell on paid leave.

Both passed unanimously with Coun. Ramona Robins absent from the proceedings.

The cost of the investigator will be paid through the city manager’s contingency fund, though, no estimate was provided.

The city is stating no additional information will be provided at this time.

The move comes in the wake of a damning provincial inspector’s report on municipal governance in Medicine Hat that included 68 recommendations and three ministerial directives for improvement.