Feature Article October 10, 2001
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Closed agendas at council meetings? by Will CybulskiAt one of North Frontenacs past council meetings, some the audience who gathered outside afterwards wondered why no opportunity was given for the public to participate by way of a question and answer period. At first glance, that would seem to be a reasonable expectation, since we have a democratic process of governance in this country, with politicians being responsive and responsible to their constituents. However, further thought would make it equally easy to reconcile with things being kept as they are at present. North Frontenac Council isnt the only governing body to take the closed agenda approach. Even though it is a matter of choice, our municipality handles its meeting format in the same manner as Addington Highlands, Centre Hastings, and Tweed, to name a few. If you want to address North Frontenac Council, you ask to be put on the agenda in advance, and make your presentation as a delegation. As spokesperson, you are given sufficient time to make your pitch, and there is dialogue between the presenter and council. As a result, the meetings business is conducted according to the publicly available printed agenda, without interruption or input from anyone outside council, unless invited. You may not always get what you want from council, but you are afforded the opportunity to try. One person voiced the opinion that perhaps some time during the wind-down could be dedicated to questions and answers. The idea has merit, but only if it works as proposed. Human frailty and politics being what they are, such a period could no doubt lead to some great articles for the following weeks paper. Someone would take exception to something said, or to being cut off, and I can readily envision the meeting degenerating into a name-calling, finger-pointing, free-for-all not unlike that which we already see in some senior government houses. No doubt you would need a moderator to maintain decorum, decide whose question had priority, and determine how much time should be spent mulling over each subject. Remember, we are all entitled to be treated the same, so everyone in attendance would probably expect equal air time. In the interest of sharing councils workings with residents from the outer wards, North Frontenac took its meetings on the road this summer, aware that paperwork relating to many matters of importance to residents was back at the municipal office. If attendance at those meetings was an accurate measuring stick, things seemed to have worked out positively, as was hoped. If council were continually put on the spot by not having ready access to pertinent files or documentation in replying to spontaneous questions, the rotating meetings initiative would not likely be repeated. In our democratic process, we have government by representation. If we dont like what council is doing as a whole, or if we arent too keen on what we hear when we do attend council meetings, we can address our concerns to our ward representatives. I have attended all but two scheduled council meetings since the past election, and can report that some councillors regularly bring residents issues to the table under Other Business. If we still arent too keen on how council works on our behalf, we are left with the options of complaining at large, voting for a more likely candidate next time around, or putting our own name forward for election. But it could take upwards of three years to get our point across and effect change. In the interim, open forums do take place at meetings of other municipalities, so it would be interesting to hear how the system works there. Personally, Id like to see an old-time Town Hall meeting every six months or so, with generic questioning moderated similarly to the pre-election all-candidates meetings. If you do have an opinion on having a Question and Answer Period, how will you make your views known to the mayor and any or all of council?
