DRAYTON – Mapleton council has altered its procedural bylaw to allow council to meet via an electronic platform for both open-to-the-public and closed council meetings.
Council approved changes to the procedural bylaw at the Aug. 11 meeting, held at the PMD arena.
Although a staff report from CAO Manny Baron recommended members of council not be allowed to participate electronically in any meeting not being held on an electronic platform, council amended the resolution to allow individual electronic participation at the discretion of the head of council.
Council elected not to allow councillors to vote by proxy when they are absent, despite a suggestion by councillor Michael Martin that it might prove useful in some situations.
“It would be a big shift,” conceded Martin.
However, he noted, “If we’re going to engage the younger people in process,” council might have to consider some new procedures.
“You can argue the old Municipal Act was fine, but it was dated,” said Martin, adding council could “try something new and see if it would work for us.”
Martin said provisions on electronic participation and proxy voting and electronic participation could be “carefully worded so it can’t be abused.”
“I’m not in favour of proxy voting,” said Mayor Gregg Davidson.
“If you can do virtual, why would you do proxy?” he added.
“My concern (with proxy voting) is what if you miss out on discussion at the meeting that might have changed your mind,” said councillor Marlene Ottens.
“I’m certainly not in favour of proxy voting,” said councillor Dennis Craven.
Craven said he “might be in favour” of electronic participation, but expressed concern about councillors who might “show up once a year.”
“I would think the head of council would have an opportunity to police that … if attendance is becoming an issue,” said Martin.
“I think one concern about attending electronically,” said Ottens, “is you might have people decide they want to snowbird it all winter.
“It might seem odd to me at this table, but it’s a possibility,” Ottens added.
Martin said he wasn’t sure distance participation would be a problem if councillors “get permission beforehand.”
Council approved the recommended changes, but added a provision to allow individual members to participate electronically, subject to approval from the head of council.
