The Objective
Changing how council conducts business is a priority this term to ensure better accountability and a streamlined approach to decision making. Our Legislative Services Department, in consultation with council and department heads, has overseen this extensive exercise.
Achievements and Milestones
To help streamline how the town conducts business, and to allow a more engaged approach by members of council, a number of volunteer boards and committees have been retired. These include:
- Beachfront Management Board.
- High School Task Force.
- Downtown Plan Advisory Committee.
- Community Hub Steering Committee.
By retiring these bodies, council has assumed direct responsibility for the matters overseen by these entities.
In addition, a review of council's governance structure occurred in 2019 and Procedural Bylaw amendments took place in 2019, 2020 and 2021 to make for more effective meetings and to accommodate the challenges of in-person meeting during the pandemic.
Efforts included the consolidation of the public question period to one at the start of the meeting, in keeping with best practice.
Several bylaw reviews were also conducted and where appropriate updated.
This included updating the Council Indemnification Bylaw, including a section where members of council could protect themselves from defamatory statements made about them.
New software has also been implemented to streamline operations, including:
- Agenda management software.
- Records management software.
New policies and procedures have been implemented, too.
- Council-Staff Relations Policy.
- Protection and Enhancement of the Tree Canopy and Natural Vegetation Policy.
- Code of Conduct.
- Introduced Coffee with Council, held quarterly, to provide an opportunity for members of the public to engage with council.
Audio/Visual investments to support council operations
New council meeting date and times
- Moved council meetings from Tuesday evenings to Thursdays at 2 p.m., starting January 2022.
- This change allows the public additional time to view the agenda online and sign up for comment and question period; and saves money for the municipality as staff no longer have to attend evening meetings and incur overtime.
- Changes have been made this term to allow the public to attend council meetings virtually and in-person, subject to COVID-19 regulations.
Contact Information
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