The Blue Mountains council will continue allowing its members to participate in meetings virtually until the end of the year.
At its meeting on June 20, council accepted a staff report that waived the town’s procedural bylaw to allow members of council to continue to participate in all council, committee of the whole and closed session meetings virtually until December 31. The motion also allows members of the town’s committee of adjustment to continue with virtual participation until the end of the year.
Clerk Corrina Giles explained that on March 14, 2022 council passed a resolution to allow virtual participation with that permission expiring on various dates in July. She said those deadlines are now approaching and the council’s virtual permission needs to be extended.
Members of council were supportive of the move.
“I want to thank the clerk very much for this leadership,” said Coun. Paula Hope, who added she is pleased the town is providing members of the public the option of attending and participating in council meetings virtually.
Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon asked if the town’s various standing committees needed to have a similar resolution. Giles advised that some time ago council passed a resolution that all committees of council would meet virtually.
Coun. Rob Sampson supported the resolution, but also noted it’s important to get back to normal. Although, Sampson admitted that the “new normal” is still a work in progress.
“The more we get back to normal the better. It seems to be working okay now,” he said.
Mayor Alar Soever said he will continue to be in the council chambers for as many meetings as he can, but said the virtual format is handy.
“My own view is that I will be in-person as much as possible. This might be useful at this point in time for a little while longer,” he said.
