By Staff
March 23rd, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Don’t accuse this council of ever rushing into anything.
Plans for the resumption of normal city council business were set out today. They will move to a hybrid model. Members of Council, senior City staff and members of the public have the option to participate in Council meetings in-person at Council Chambers in City Hall at 426 Brant St. or remotely.
At least two members of Council have been infected by Covid19, one very mildly, the other quite seriously.
Another member of Council appears to suffer from Mysophobia a phobia that centers on an extreme and irrational fear of germs, dirt, or contamination.
The move to hybrid Council meetings will be phased in.
The first hybrid meeting will be the Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee (EICS) meeting taking place on April 7, 2022.
This will be for members of Council and senior City staff only.
Following this, the Council meeting on April 19 will have the option for Council, senior staff and delegations, only, to be present in Council Chambers.
Expect to see Ann and David Marsden at the first meeting during which in person delegations will be possible.
Starting in May, the standing committees and Council meetings will be open to Council, senior staff, delegations and the public to attend in person.
All this rests on the Covid19 infection numbers being low – in the three to five hundred level seems to be what they are aiming for.
City Council and committee meetings have been held virtually for the past two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Health and safety
To ensure the health of safety of participants attending hybrid council meetings in person:
- members of Council will be physically distanced in Council Chambers around the Council desk
- plexiglass barriers have been installed between participants sitting around the Council desk and in front of the delegate’s podium
- masking will be encouraged for individuals in Council Chambers when they are not speaking
- after each meeting, all Council Chambers equipment and surfaces will be disinfected.
Delegations from members of the public
Under the hybrid model, members of the public have the option to delegate in-person in Council Chambers or remotely.
Council Chambers will be configured to ensure all participants have an equitable and seamless meeting experience. Delegates are not required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to delegate in person. Those wishing to speak at an upcoming meeting must register by noon the business day before the meeting at burlington.ca/delegate.
Will Burlington every see this level of public participation again?
Members of the public can continue to access a live stream of Council and committee meetings from wherever they are by visiting burlington.ca and selecting the “Live Stream” icon.
A strategy for resuming in-person advisory committee meetings will be reviewed at a later date and will be based on findings and lessons learned from the hybrid City Council meetings.
The City will continue to monitor the situation with COVID-19 and follow the guidance provided by public health and the Province of Ontario. In the event of any changes made by the Province of Ontario to current COVID-19 public health measures, changes to the hybrid council meeting model may be introduced.
Residents delegating in person are reminded the main floor of City Hall is currently undergoing construction as part of the City Hall Modernization project. Please use the Brant Street entrance to access City Hall and take the elevator in the lobby to reach the second floor where Council Chambers is located.
