Essex council ponders video conferencing for meetings

Members of Essex County council could soon participate in regularly scheduled meetings over video conference, in line with orders from provincial and local health officials to work from home amid the global pandemic.

Following a meeting of council at the Essex County Civic Centre Wednesday evening, Essex County Warden Gary Mcnamara told the Star he expects pending provincial changes to the Municipal Act could allow councillors to hold meetings through teleconference in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. Under the Municipal Act as it stands, video conference meetings are not allowed.

Mcnamara on Tuesday participated in a conference call with Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Steve Clark. Clark indicated the province was “looking at some legislation from the Ministry of Labour” to allow “Skype or Zoom meetings,” Mcnamara said. He expects those changes could be approved as soon as Friday.

At Wednesday’s meeting, council made no mention of suspending scheduled council meetings.

It did, however, vote to delegate authority for procurements exceeding $300,000 to the county’s chief administrative officer, Rob Maisonville, and the clerk, in the event council does suspend its regular meetings “for emergency reasons.” Under normal circumstances, council would vote on any procurements exceeding that amount.

We’ve got to keep some semblance of the economy moving

Following the decision, there is now no cap on the amount of spending the CAO and clerk could authorize under emergency circumstances. If the event arose, administration would still create and distribute via email to councillors reports on any approved procurements.

“Business has to continue,” Mcnamara said. “We’ve got to pick up garbage. There’s still the construction side of it. We’ve got to keep some semblance of the economy moving, so we delegated the authority to them (the CAO and clerk).”

Mcnamara said meetings of all other boards and commissions have been suspended “until further notice when we get the all clear from the medical officer of health.”

Members of the public were discouraged from attending Wednesday’s meeting in person. Instead, they were urged to view proceedings live online.

Members of council occupied every other seat at the large horseshoe table in council chambers in an effort to socially distance themselves from one another. Some members of administration sat in spots typically reserved for the media, while others sat spread apart in the audience gallery.

“Governments of all levels are taking extraordinary steps to promote public health and most importantly stop the spread of the COVID -19 virus,” Mcnamara said in addressing members of council. “We need to be patient, prudent, and proactive, but above all, we will get through this — it is a message we need to embrace as we promote social distancing.

“We all have a role to play, and I have no doubt the residents, the businesses of Windsor-essex will do their part, and that we’ll get through this crisis together.”

Prior to the council meeting, the County of Essex announced the Essex County Civic Centre will close to the public starting Thursday.

Staff will still be working and available by telephone or email. The centre’s main phone number is 519-776-6441. A municipal directory with specific extensions is available on the county’s website (www.countyofessex.ca).