Town councillors have rejected a bid by Mayor Lou Maieron to have county councillor reports included as a regular part of meeting agendas.
Instead, they prefer having the upper-tier representative appearing as a delegation when required.
When Maieon introduced the idea, which he said initiated with staff, he explained having county councillor Ken Chapman on the agenda would help keep town council informed.
“There’s always been an impasse between the county and the town,” Maieron said, adding the move could help address that.
Councillor Barb Tocher said she thought the intent of the “mayor’s report,” which is already included on the agenda, was to keep councillors abreast of developments at the county.
Maieron said he and Chapman will sit on different committees, so they will have different reports and perspectives. Still, councillor John Brennan said if Chapman wants to report something to council, he could be added as a delegation.
“I don’t see why it should be a standing report,” Brennan said.
Maieron said when he was county councillor and tried to come to address town council he was told to come as a delegation. By the time he spoke to council, often it was too late to address certain time-sensitive issues, he added.
Brennan asked what “the hold up” is for delegations and town manager Lisa Hass replied, “There is none.”
Councillor Josie Wintersinger said if Chapman has something important to relay to town officials, council can accommodate him and put him on the agenda.
Tocher agreed, but said council should have prior notice of the topic, as it does for regular delegations.
