On Monday night, Kingston’s common council unanimously rebuffed mayor Steve Noble’s veto to launch the city’s first charter review in more than 25 years, fast-tracking a rewrite of Kingston’s basic governing document that could curb mayoral power and reshape city hall.

A charter for a city or county, like a constitution for a country, is a document which defines a system of governance through organizing rules which apply to the rights of both property and individual. It also creates municipal functionaries like a mayor or common council alder, among whom power must be divided and responsibility apportioned. Kingston’s original charter was adopted in 1896.

Had they fallen short of the six votes required to defeat the mayor’s veto, November 2028 would have been the earliest date any re

See Full Page