ATHABASCA - As certain businesses reopen their doors to the public as per the province’s timeline, municipal councillors, administration and the general public have been wondering how and when elected councils will return to their chambers to get down to the business of governing.
All three local councils (Town of Athabasca, Athabasca County and Village of Boyle) reviewed a memorandum from Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, at their respective last meetings, clarifying that municipal and committee can now take place.
“I would like to clarify that, similar to the provincial government, municipal council and committee meetings can take place in-person with more than 15 people in one indoor location, as long as physical distancing of two metres can be maintained between participants,” read the memo.
Public attendance is not recommended though and attendance via virtual means should continue. Hinshaw also stressed the importance of cleaning and disinfecting regularly, along with frequent hand washing and available hand sanitizer.
Athabasca County council was the first to discuss the memo from the province’s top doctor at its May 28 meeting. Since March, county councillors have been meeting via Zoom and broadcasting in real time on the municipality’s YouTube channel for public access.
Coun. Dennis Willcott was quick to state his opinion that things were working well as they are and there was no need to rush back into meeting in-person.
“For now, I’d rather do it this way,” he said. “This works, I don’t see nothing wrong with it and if we go there, the staff have to go in and clean when we leave. If this is working, it may not be the best, but I think we should keep going like this, and I ‘m not a computer guy.”
Coun. Warren Griffin agreed: ““I’d rather have an in-person meeting, but at the same time we do have to watch out for staff, and ourselves.”
Council decided to maintain the status quo for the time being and accepted Hinshaw’s letter for information.
The county office, public works building and the FCSS building will remain closed to the public for the time being, but staff will respond to telephone or electronic inquiries.
Town of Athabasca councillors also discussed the memo at their June 2 meeting.
CAO Rachel Ramey told council that administration staff were all back in the office as of June 1 and public works staff are also back to their normal shifts. Summer students have also started.
"We've got Plexiglass up on the front counter already so that we're prepared for that. We've got some stickers to put on the floor … we're only gonna allow two people in the lobby at a time as far as public goes, just to make sure that we're keeping all of our safety measures in place,” she said.
As far as regular council meetings, Ramey said the tables in council chambers were extended and measured six feet apart, which allows for seven councillors to sit around the table.
“I would have to find myself my own table and sit in the middle and then it only allows for three in the gallery to keep our distancing. So, it will be a challenge, but I think we can make it work," Ramey said.
Council’s June 19 meeting will continue to be held via Zoom and as the summer meeting schedule of one meeting per month come into effect in July.
"It definitely won't be June because if Phase 2 or Stage 2 does take place on June 19 like they're talking, that'll be after our second June meeting," said Ramey.
At the Village of Boyle’s June 3 meeting, the memo was a moot point as councillors have been meeting in-person since the pandemic was declared.
With only five council members, a couple administrative staff and the press at each meeting, council chambers is large enough to accommodate social distancing protocols, the room is cleaned and disinfected after every meeting and hand sanitizer is readily available, said interim CAO Robert Jorgenson.
The village office, which shares the same building with council’s chambers (and the local library) has been closed to the public since March and will remain so until the government says otherwise.
“We are closed to the public, but we are still here. When the provincial government gives us the go-ahead we will open up,” said Jorgenson.
