The Blue Mountains councillor Paula Hope wants to see the town end limitations on how often council members can participate in meetings virtually.
At council’s meeting on Nov. 28, Hope read a notice of motion that would ask staff to bring forward a report outlining steps needed to eliminate the current limitations on councillor virtual participation in meetings.
In her proposed resolution, Hope asked for three sections of the town’s procedural bylaw to be eliminated.
They are:
- Section 13 b. i): Electronic participation is not permitted in a closed session unless the municipality is in a declared state of emergency as referenced in Section 4.14;
- Section 13 b. iii): No more than three council members may be absent from or participating electronically in any council meeting, committee of the whole meeting, or council meeting, public meeting;
- Section 13 b. v): On a semi-annual basis, each council member may participate electronically in no more than four (4) council, committee of the whole meeting, or council meeting, public meeting, calculated from January to July and from August to December each year.
Hope asked that “this notice of motion be considered a request that council provide direction to staff to bring forward a recommendation through a staff report that identifies options to eliminate the limitations of members of council to participate electronically (virtually) in council, committee of the whole or council meeting, public meeting.”
After Hope introduced the motion, Clerk Corrina Giles said if the resolution is passed by council, she would prepare a report to be considered by council at the committee of the whole meeting on Jan. 9. She said changes to the procedural bylaw require a public meeting to gather comments from local residents. However, Giles said council could waive the public meeting requirements if it so chooses.
There was no discussion on the motion introduced by Hope and it will come to council for a vote on Dec. 12.
