Chatham-Kent’s next council could have new options for addressing councillor attendance at committee and board meetings.
Council voted unanimously on Monday to approve a motion by Councillor Carmen McGregor which has administration creating a report outlining options, considerations, and potential implications related to council member’s attendance at committee and board meetings to which they have been appointed.
According to Director of Municipal Governance and Clerk Judy Shantz, councillors next term will be presented with a list of committees and boards available to sit on, and can indicate their preferences. The acting mayor and Chief Administrative Officer will then work through the requests and make assignments.
The positions will be presented during an open session of council for a vote. Councillors who were not assigned to a committee or board can also put their names forward, with council voting on those requests.
“We do have a policy and the policy states due to the number of councillors and the number of committees and local boards, it’s about three or four different committees that councillors sit on and that is why we go and ask preferences,” said Shantz.
“We will have fewer councillors next term and according to the report that approved in the consent agenda with the committees, there is one or two less committees perhaps, so those will be things that will be taken into consideration.”
McGregor’s motion comes in the wake of an article written by the Chatham Voice that broke down current council member’s attendance records for their respective committees.
“These appointments are an important part of our role as counselors. Committees and board undertake work that supports municipal services, community priorities, and decisions we make around this table,” McGregor said.
“Consistent attendance helps maintain continuity and ensures that council representatives understand the decisions behind the recommendations coming forward.”
The report will be presented to the new council at a future meeting after the election.
