Changes to the by-law governing the way that Council and board/committee meetings run have been released for public feedback and input.
“Transparent, accessible and legislatively sound proceedings at Council and committee meetings are critical for a well-functioning local government. An up-to-date and sound procedural by-law lays the groundwork for that to happen,” says Mayor Steve Ferguson.
Every municipality in the province of Ontario must have a procedural by-law. The by-law includes rules for how municipal meetings are called, who is involved, where they happen, and how they proceed. The by-law also guides residents’ interactions with Council, the conduct of Council, and the way the municipality communicates about meetings.
County staff have worked with consultants Amberley Gavel to conduct a thorough review of the procedural by-law and propose a number of changes. The municipality is now seeking public feedback on those changes before finalizing a new procedural by-law for Council’s consideration in February 2022.
Information is posted on Have Your Say, the municipality’s online engagement site. There residents can find the proposed changes grouped by four themes:
- Encouraging More Efficient Meetings
- Improving Transparency
- Aligning with Legislation
- Advancing Inclusion and Accessibility.
After reading through the changes, the public is invited to share their input in the online forums. The deadline to submit feedback is Friday, January 14.
A special committee of the whole meeting to discuss the procedural by-law will take place on Wednesday, January 26 at 6 pm. More details about participating at that meeting will be shared in January.
If you have questions about the procedural by-law review, contact Catalina Blumenberg, Clerk, by emailing cblumenberg@pecounty.on.ca or call 613.476.2148 extension 1021.