Council Turns Down Extra Meetings
A vote that would have seen Council and Executive Committee meet every second Monday, instead of twice monthly, has been rejected by Council.
In a recent meeting Councillor Heather Eby put forth a motion which would have seen Council and Executive meet 26 times a year instead of the present 23 times annually.
“This isn’t a hill I wanted to die on but just something I wanted to bring forward and a little bit of history prior to 2017 City Council every Monday,” Councillor Eby said, adding she preferred the previous system of more meetings because it allowed Council to have a better understanding of what is going on at the City.
“I personally liked that system because we were always in the loop. We always knew what was going on…in 2017 a decision was made to meet on the second and fourth meetings of the month and that has been made and it has been fine however there are two times a year that it works out we get an extended break of three weeks between meetings,” she said.
“I just found that very long and I just found disconnected as a City Councillor from what is happening at City Hall. And I know it is great for Administration and staff to have three weeks without have to deal with that and they can do their work and not be hampered by us but we are elected to be part of the process. And to be helping make decisions,” Councillor Eby said in support of her motion.
Councillor Eby went on to state in her opinion Council, as a whole, would better serve the community if they met every second week instead of twice monthly.
It also needs to be noted since 2017 a number of Committees of Council have been amalgamated into other larger committees reducing the number of committees and meetings Council needs to attend. Additionally Council received major remuneration increases during this time span.
“It will help us (Council as a whole) to be more connected, not just at City Hall, but with the business of the City.”
Councillor Dawn Luhning said she did not have an issue with the motion.
“I will never stand up here and say we shouldn’t meet more,” Councillor Luhning said, adding “I don’t have a problem with this I think it is good for us to meet more often. I too feel a little bit disconnected sometimes with what is happening at City Hall so I am in favour of the motion.”
Councillor Doug Blanc said he was “torn” with the motion because the months affected are November and January because in November there are budget meetings in between regular Council meetings.
“I think we have the opportunity if we want an extra Council meeting and something comes up we have the opportunity (to hold a Council meeting),” Councillor Blanc said.
“I thought the current system was working but I have been here only basically two years,” he said.
Mayor Clive Tolley said he could not support the motion as he had already established his schedule.
“I have just set my schedule according to our Council meetings…because we had a set schedule I have made a lot of plans for the coming year in terms of when we are meeting and when we are not meeting and I have set a schedule quite a few months ahead,” Mayor Tolley said.
“If something comes up that is urgent we can certainly call an extra meeting if required. But the City Administration and the Mayor’s Office have been planning based on a schedule…we have quite a few appointments on the schedule already based on the current calendar,” the Mayor said.
In a 3 - 3 vote the motion was defeated.
Voting in favour of the motion were Councillors Eby, Luhning and Jamey Logan. Opposed were Mayor Tolley, Councillor Blanc and Councillor Kim Robinson.
Because Councillor Crystal Froese was absent and did not appear by other means the motion was defeated on the tied vote.
POST COUNCIL MEDIA SCRUM
In the post Council media scrum MJ Independent asked Mayor Tolley a series of questions regarding the failed motion.
Asked for his reaction that many of MJ Independent’s readership were in favour of Council reverting back to the pre-2017 Council schedule of weekly meetgings Mayor Tolley said the meetings were just part of the job residents saw but there was more to it.
“I think these meetings are the formal part of the work that goes on by the Council and Administration. And that everyday our Mayor, our Council and our Administration is working towards the betterment of our community,” he said, adding “I was a member of Moose Jaw City Council when we met once a week and I was thinking at that time it would be nice to meet every couple of weeks and have more time in between meetings to accomplish more.”
The Mayor pointed out more meetings placed more work on Administration who could better use it running the City.
“You have to remember when we have a Council meeting there is a huge emphasis placed on the Administration to prepare for the meeting. To prepare for the meeting, to prepare reports to be here in person and take time away from their desk and from their usual work,” Mayor Tolley said.
“I think it serves the purpose now and I just don’t see any reason to change it”
Asked if he had any major concerns about Councillor Eby expressing she felt out of the loop when it came to extended breaks between some meetings and should Councillors ever feel that way the Mayor said his door was always open.
It needs to be noted Councillor Dawn Luhning expressed similar sentiments during the motion debate.
“I have an open door policy with both Council, Administration and the community. And Councillor Eby is welcome to come anytime to City Hall and talk to me, myself, the City Manager. If she has questions or concerns she can call or text or email at any time. And I will make sure I will reach out to her in the coming weeks to make sure she feels connected with City Hall.”