Effort afoot to build a better regional council
Council looking on improving how the ‘ business of regional government’ gets done during committee and council meetings
It may be a while before regional council votes on a wide- ranging motion on improving the business of council.
Councillors voted unanimously in support of Lincoln Mayor Sandra Easton’s direction to refer the motion to committee- of- the - whole for debate sometime before the end of the first quarter.
“There are quite a number of items that affect us as a whole — and our relationships with others,” Easton said. “We as individuals need to understand all the elements at play here.”
According to the council schedule, the week of Feb. 19 has dates blocked off for committee- of- thewhole ( budget review) meetings, as does the week of March 5.
Easton turned down CAO Carmen D’Angelo’s offer to have the procedural bylaw committee review some of the details before they come to the committee- of- the- whole.
“I put considerable thought into this, and I believe this matter requires the attention of everyone, and, quite frankly, I do not want any of the messages or the reports to be filtered,” Easton said.
“It’s not a negative statement, but I want to be part of that discussion, and I want to be able to vote, as I should be able to, in the primary instance.”
Council was considering a report and motion on improving how the “business of regional government” gets done during committee and council meetings.
That motion would have council amend its procedural bylaws in two main areas: how council manages the public space during meetings; and building stronger relationships with the media.
That relationship is under scrutiny from Ontario’s Ombudsman Office, as it works to complete a report after the unlawful seizure of a reporter’s computer and notes last December. The ombudsman can make recommendations for the Region on its media policy, which has undergone a review from a third- party consultant.
Regarding the management of meetings, the report suggested council consider the use of an ante- room for closed sessions. It would cost about $ 50,000 to re- fit Committee Room No. 4 for closed sessions.
The report said the current method of clearing council chambers before beginning a closed session is “inconvenient” for the public, who are herded into the lobby at Thorold headquarters.
Also, staff must discontinue the livestream video of the meeting and vacate the control room. Members of media must now also pack up their equipment and leave council chambers. None of that would be necessary if the councillors retreated to an ante- room.
The report noted St. Catharines city council uses an ante- room for closed sessions.
Among other recommendations is the installation of surveillance cameras at strategic locations and the hiring of additional security personnel including a sergeant- at- arms ( at the cost of about $ 40,000) to manage meetings and the “expulsion” of unruly people.
The latter would also involve creating a job description and consultations with police on protocols and procedures.
Last but not least is a necessity of finding space at the table for a new councillor for West Lincoln, who will arrive after the fall election. With no empty seats now around the horseshoe, the report makes two suggestions.
The first option would be to extend benches and add another physical seat, which would entail construction, electrical and equipment costs.
The report also offers a no- cost solution akin to a game of musical chairs. A staff member would vacate his or her seat at the head bench and move to the employee corral at the side of the chamber. The staff member would be replaced at the head bench by whichever councillor is designated to act as deputy regional chair for the meeting. That in turn would leave an empty desk in the horseshoe for the member from West Lincoln.