Council considering procedural changes

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Uxbridge councillors debated on Monday whether there should be a change in the way council deals with committee hearings.

Regional councillor Bruce Garrod raised the issue when he noted that on Monday's agenda there was no business for the first five committee hearings.

Council meetings fall into two categories. There are regular council meetings, where Mayor Dave Barton chairs all the proceedings, and committee of the whole, where each council committee hearing is chaired by the designated councillor. On Monday's committee of the whole agenda, there were no reports, no correspondence, no unfinished business and no "other" business for the finance, heritage, parks, environment and public works committees.

"Is there a better way of doing this," Garrod asked. "Why have committee meetings if there is no business?"

He questioned why, in such circumstances, committee chairs are required to ask if there are questions from the media or the public, but appeared reluctant to put forward a motion to change procedure. Councillor Todd Snooks offered that changing the way the committees are handled could deprive councillors of the opportunity of raising "other business." Councillor Willie Popp countered that the mayor could address that at the start of meetings.

Clerk Debbie Leroux told councillors that running through the agenda as in the past "doesn't take up time." She added that councillors can waive the rules of procedure at any time.