WESTLOCK – Starting Monday, Town of Westlock councillors will resume discussing municipal business face-to-face.
In mid-December 2020, when provincial COVID-19 restrictions tightened, council began holding all its meetings online via Zoom — in the request for decision at council’s June 14 meeting administration noted that since the meetings are deemed business they could have continued in-person, but council felt it would be safer for all to move them to a virtual setting.
Although councillors came to a consensus to resume meeting in-person starting at the June 21 committee of the whole gathering, they did vote 0-6 (mayor Ralph Leriger was absent) against a motion to codify the resumption — Coun. Murtaza Jamaly argued against a formal motion due to the ever-changing nature of the pandemic.
Going forward the CAO, two town staffers and council will get priority — initially only 15 people will be allowed for the meetings, which is 30 per cent of the 45-person fire code capacity for chambers. Pre-registered media and public can also attend — contact Annette Boissonnault at [email protected] or call 780-350-2101 — while the total number of attendees will be revisited when provincial restrictions loosen.
“I’m thinking about fluidity of change. If we get into a process where we have to potentially return to remote is that another motion, or is it council’s discretion to meet in-person or meet remotely as long as we’re in accordance with public health regulations?” Jamaly asked.
“I think there needs to be discussion and consensus, but not necessarily a motion due to how quickly we need to move in terms of being able to roll it back or move it forward. I think a motion is too heavy handed. We don’t make motions about opening and closing the Spirit Centre. It’s an operational decision.”
“You’re right Coun. Jamaly, council does not require a motion to go back into chambers, it really is at council’s will whether they go in or not. The intent of this was to have a discussion, timing was good to have a public conversation,” CAO Simone Wiley replied.
Councillors and staff not comfortable with returning to in-person meetings will still be allowed to take part via Zoom. In fact, Zoom access to the meetings will continue for the foreseeable future as meetings have been broadcast online since last year.
“I’m pleased to see within this that the Zoom capabilities will still be offered for members of the public, members of administration as well as members of council who may not want to return in person under this platform,” added deputy mayor David Truckey.
