Sutherland Madeiros has assured taxpayers that the Corporation of Hamilton is in good fiscal shape, despite recent internal clashes between members.

The Mayor admitted to The Royal Gazette that he has found it "very difficult" to get consensus at City Hall since he was elected in 2006 but he insisted that it had not affected the running of the municipality, which has a $21 million annual budget.

"If you look at the fiscal shape of the Corporation, I think you'll find the Corporation in a very strong position," he said.

"That's the biggest problem of most municipalities throughout the world. I think we have managed our money very well."

Mr. Madeiros was interviewed by this newspaper after former Councillor Graeme Outerbridge leaked a dossier of evidence revealing the infighting between elected members at City Hall.

The Mayor rebutted allegations by former SecretaryKelly Miller that he was an interfering, divisive boss and insisted he has always had the best interests of the City at heart.

"I'm trying to get people to work together, not against each other," he insisted. "I hate being painted as a bad person when Ido everything in my power to do things right."

He admitted that it had been tough to get members on side after they wrote a letter asking him to resign soon after he was elected, claiming he was involved in electoral interference.

The rebel Aldermen and Councillors ultimately agreed to put aside their differences and work with him and his mayoral rival Sonia Grant.

Ms Grant later dropped the claims against him after taking the matter to Supreme Court. But the documents leaked by Mr. Outerbridge show that the divisions remained.

Three new Councillors were elected onto the municipality last month and a new Secretary replaced Ms Miller changes which the Mayor said would be beneficial to the Corporation.

"It can work and it will work," he said. "We have a new Secretary who, so far, is first class. We have some new members who are going to bring some expertise and business acumen to the table."

The Mayor said he had made mistakes during his leadership but added: "By and large, Ihave always ensured that the decisions Ihave made have always been in the best interests of the constituents."

He pledged to urge members to agree to publish a report on the City, which he commissioned but which they pulled the plug on. And he said some of the recommendations it contained could be implemented.

The Mayor, who supports opening up meetings to the public to promote accountability, said new Secretary Ed Benevides had been appointed for six months while the Corporation looked at its management structure.

"We are looking at six months to see how he performs," he said. "At the end of six months we may decide that the Secretary and the City Manager or Chief Operating Officer should be two different people. That may be the way to go."

He said Mr. Benevides would then be free to apply for either job. The Corporation's annual financial statements will be made public next week.