The first meeting was, well, a bust. Four people in a big empty room.

Same space. Eight weeks later. Last Friday night. “It was over-subscribed this time,” he says. “We actually had to bring in more chairs.” It suggests a blow-out event when the public at large is invited on May 14.

That’s Stuart McCormack describing the weedy growth of the NOTL Residents Association, a grassroots gang dedicated to saving the bucolic existence of a unique place from the people elected to do exactly that. Development. Short-term rentals. Heritage. Hotels. Tourists. Trees. Some days it seems only the horses are at peace.

And, now, the restless recruits of Stu’s Rangers have a new worry. A rogue mayor.

“It could be an autocracy,” says McCormack of the looming new powers the province wants for our lordly head of council.

In case you missed it, on May 1 the current mayor, Gary Zalepa — a career real estate guy who works part-time as our ruler — could be vastly stronger by provincial decree.

NOTL’s one of a clutch of towns and cities where “strong mayor” powers are being urged by the Doug Ford government, which wants a ton of new houses built. Pronto.

Super-Zalepa would be able to propose the town budget with a veto and override ability. Key staff, like the treasurer, chief admin officer and clerk can be personally appointed (or fired). He’ll be able to create committees and appoint chairs, plus veto any bylaw “that could potentially interfere with provincial priorities.” Yes, like build, baby, build.

“People are very concerned,” says McCormack. “They were blindsided by this move. Every year it gets harder and harder to get folks to vote. So, how do you tell them democracy is functioning properly when at the end of the day they get an autocracy?”

And the reb leader isn’t buying a new motion now before council to block Ford’s move.

“I find it very difficult not to draw an analogy between this and when Jean Chrétien opposed the GST and Brian Mulroney – ‘fight like hell against it in campaign and hope to hell it gets in.’ In other words, it’s a political ploy. The decision has been made.”

If so, lots of folks are steaming at the thought. Super-Z is not going down well.

“Strong mayor powers needed to get more housing built? That doesn’t seem to be the justification here!” says Niagara Foundation head Lyle Hall. “The problem I see is the government is changing rules (strong mayor) and all we’re getting is more housing approved, not built.”

 “This is an unnecessary step that will not add anything to the democratic process,” says Airbnb foe and former councillor Norm Arsenault.

“Quite the opposite really and will do nothing to increase housing starts, which appear to be the guise under which this is being pushed out. Several mayors in Ontario have already stated that they would not use these new powers for exactly that reason. They see it as undemocratic.”

Former Chautauqua residents group head Brian Crow says, “already many residents are opposed to the direction the lord mayor has led council. It will be up to the lord mayor on how he uses these new powers whether his relationship with residents improves or declines more.”

“This only legalizes the manner in which our lord mayor and his team of rogues have been practising during this council’s term,” fumes longtime NOTLer Sam Young. “And by that I mean a dictatorship! It sounds like that guy south of the border!”

But Super-Zalepa may swoop in soon. Faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap public opinion in a single bound.

Will the rebels stand a chance?