Depending on how the pilot project goes, municipal council meetings might be coming to a ward near you.
During Monday nights council meeting, Mayor Darrin Canniff introduced a successful motion to host a pilot council meeting in Tilbury in October.
Earlier in 2019, Canniff made good on one of his campaign promises and put forward a motion to have municipal staff put together a report detailing the logistics of holding two regular council meetings in each of the larger communities over a four-year term. Currently, meetings are held exclusively at the Civic Centre in Chatham.
The report was brought to council on Monday and detailed some of the challenges that might be incurred during the travelling meetings. One of the biggest factors for the municipality to consider is finding the right location for a meeting that would be wheelchair accessible, large enough to host at least 100 people as well as be able to have chairs, podiums and tables configured inside. Technical considerations also came into play including ensuring there are microphones available as well as internet access.
Of the 21 possible locations reviewed in five wards, only two were considered to have "good potential" based on the necessary criteria.
The second part of Canniff's motion included that, following the test meeting in Tilbury, administration prepare a report that better shows the feasibility, challenges and costs of taking meetings on the road.
The motion passed 16-1 but not without some questions from councillors.
Councillor Doug Sulman, the only person to vote against the motion, referenced resident comments that were made through a survey on the issue, with many saying they would prefer to see town-hall-style meetings in their ward instead.
"The public comments were not necessarily in favour of the motion that's before us," said Sulman. "Generally, they wanted town hall meetings so they could actually participate and make their views known and speak to the councillors, those kinds of things. That's not this format whatsoever... There's no sense doing this and then have people come and be disappointed."
Councillor Micheal Bondy echoed some of these concerns and also questioned the costs associated with the meeting.
"I kind of don't see the point," Bondy said. "We've got a perfectly working facility here. Again, it's a nice idea but I don't know we can do it for $2,000... I think the public may think it's going to be a little bit more engaging than it will be."
Canniff's motion ensured that no more than $2,000 funded from the Strategic Reserve would be spent on the pilot meeting. The report didn't give specifics on what the financial implications would be for regular meetings, citing that it depended on where the meetings were held and what other costs were associated with the locations such as technical requirements, insurance and mileage.
Challenges aside, many residents thought the idea was worth a try.
"What do we got to lose?" asked Councillor Steve Pinsonneault. "We told the residents that we want to get out to their communities. Maybe it won't work, who knows, but let's give it a try. I think we owe that to the other communities."
The pilot meeting will take place at Ryder Hall in Tilbury on October 7, 2019. Canniff said he's hopeful that it will be possible to bring meetings to different wards and believes the approval of the motion is just the beginning of making smaller communities feel more included.
"This is a real turning point for Chatham-Kent," said Canniff. "This is a step forward for inclusion."
