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Originally Posted by Cscutch
I don't know if this is correct or not but I heard that the one thing the Mayor has for power, is that they assist in helping set the agenda for the council meetings.
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Not really. Any member of council can have their motions to council put on the agenda, as can the various committees that the aldermen sit on (audit committee, transportation committee, corporate properties, police and protective services, etc.). Aldermen usually sit on a couple committees and each one will have 4 or 5 aldermen on them, and will meet and hear from various administration and outside sources during their own meetings that are held outside of the council meetings. The committees each have their own chair as well. For instance, Colley-Urquhart was chair of the transportation committee and Pincott of the audit committee. Items can also be added to the agenda during the meeting too, just as they would during a regular business meeting.
The mayor acts as the chair of the council meeting in that he/she sees that the agenda is adhered to, calls for votes, gives the right for members of council (aldermen) to speak and ask questions, etc, opens meetings, adjourns meetings, etc. Yes, he/she also acts as a tie-breaker. In the mayor's absence (they sometimes step out to make other appearances), I believe the deputy mayor usually steps in as chair until the mayor returns. The deputy mayor position is traditionally rotated throughout the aldermen on a monthly basis.