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City council approves recommendation for new governance structure

New committee of the whole structure could be in place by Sept. 1
20160201 Guelph City Hall Council Chambers Sign KA

Guelph City Council moved closer towards changing the way it does business on Monday.

Council voted 7-6 in favour of accepting a staff report that recommends changing from the current standing committee governance model to a committee of the whole model.

The current model sees citizen delegations, business and issues first appear before a specific committee before moving on to full council.

The new structure would see those committees disappear and council sit as one to hear particular committee-related issues.

Fewer meetings, meetings that end sooner, less duplication of debate and delegations and a simplified meeting schedule were some of the benefits of the committee of the whole model listed by staff in the report to council.

It will also allow all councillors to participate in all meetings. Under the current format only councillors on that committee have full privileges.

Staff will now work towards the new governance model, bringing back more details to council for deliberation and discussion.

One of the issues to be addressed will be when those committee of the whole meetings take place: in the day, night or some form of blend.

Citizen Steven Petric, one of two delegates to appear before council on the matter Monday, said that daytime meetings "are great for staff, even council, but sucks for everybody else."

Petric pointed out that many people have trouble making it to daytime meetings to have their voice heard and the standing committee model allowed two opportunities for delegates to appear.

The other delegate on the issue, citizen activist Hugh Whiteley, said the main issue to remember in moving forward is community engagement and urged council to keep that as the top priority in deciding how the new structure would function.

Several councillors thought the change was happening too quickly.

"I'm really struggling with this," said councillor June Hofland. "I too feel like we're rushing this."

Hofland echoed Whiteley's concerns about community engagement.

"Whatever structure we choose, community engagement is most important," she said.

Bob Bell felt council should try and fix any issues at the standing committee level rather than endorse a new format.

But endorse it they did and now the clerk's office will report back to council in June with a Meeting Management Review report.


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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