A six-month trial has come to an end for Elliot Lake’s committee of the whole.
Instead, council approved a return to its standing committee system which was dropped before council decided in July last year to test the committee of the whole system. Discontinuing the trial was approved in a 5-2 vote at council on Monday evening.
Under the standing committee system, issues were brought to the committee, which consisted of three councillors and community volunteers, before coming to council. Under the committee of the whole structure, issues were dealt with by full council with decisions then going to regular council for a final vote on whether to support or oppose and recommendations from the committee.
During the trial period, the committee of the whole met the first and third Mondays at 6 p.m., while regular council would meet the second and fourth Mondays at 7 p.m. The meetings were always held in council chambers.
Originally the intention of the committee of the whole structure was to have all members of council attend meetings with full voting rights. Under the standing committee structure only the three councillors appointed to the committee had voting rights, while other members of council were able to attend to hear discussions on matters raised at the individual standing committees.
“I think it was a good exercise, this six-month trial,” Coun. Norm Mann said. “I think the standing committee has worked in the past.”
The councillor threw his support to bringing back the standing committee structure.
“Having experienced both I find the standing committee structure much more productive, expeditious,” Coun. Tammy VanRoon said. “I was better informed with the standing committees.”
The councillor said she found the committee of the whole system placed extra work on staff who had to attend those evening meetings and only having to provide information on limited questions from councillors at the meeting.
“I personally don’t want to put an additional burden on our staff. Standing committee has worked so I’m prepared to support returning to the standing committee structure,” she said.
“I’m opposed to going back,” Coun. Luc Cyr said. “Every councillor was voted by the public and every councillor needs an inherent, guaranteed right to speak at each and every committee meeting. That should be a guaranteed right in our procedural bylaw.”
Coun. VanRoon told Coun. Cyr that his concerns were expected to be dealt with in upcoming talks on the procedural bylaw.
Coun. Connie Nykyforak opposed a return to the standing committee system.
“For us to now revert back to the standing committee structures I don’t think that’s going to serve the purpose for the public. From what I have seen, the committee of the whole structure was a good format for us as councillors because we lost the substance of our standing committees. Myself I would prefer to continue as a committee of the whole until the end of this term,” she said.
“I’m in favour of going to the standing committees,” Coun. Chris Patrie said. “it’s a very focussed structure, you’re having the staff at a meeting that pertains to everything on the agenda.”
Coun. Patrie said under the standing committee system, staff could get the information needed to develop a response which then went on the council when the issue was dealt with. The system was better then staff having to attend committee of the whole meetings when they only dealt with one issue, but would have to sit through a “four or five hour meeting.”
Mayor Dan Marchisella said the trial period was valuable for all members of council.
Council voted 5-2 in favour of returning to a standing committee system. Councillor Nykyforak and Cyr voted against.