There was a time when city council has 17 members. The city has a seven member council – four people can decide major issues. Many want to see that changed.
By Pepper Parr
June 19th, 2019
BURLINGTON, ON
No one lingered to reflect on all the things that have happened in the Council Chamber for more than a decade. The meeting of city council last night was the last that will take place in the Chamber until a new Council is sworn in after the October 22nd election.
Town Crier David Vollick reading a message to city Council.
The Chamber is going to be totally renovated with significantly upgraded technology. In the new Chamber every delegation will have a place to sit, and if we understood what we heard, delegations will be required to sit when they delegate.
Hopefully there will be a timer that delegations can see when they are speaking – the Chair has to cut in and remind speakers that they are running out of time.
Council meetings will take place in Room 247 which will have web casting equipment in place
Better seating, better view of the material being shown on screens are hopefully part of the upgrades being done to the Council Chamber.
Jim Ryan addressing council 1978
For those who watch Council meeting via the web cast hopefully Burlington will join other Halton municipalities and have a split screen that allows the viewing public to see the visuals that those in the Chamber have been able to see.
An upgrade to the quality of the visuals is badly needed and an automated voting system that is better than the embarrassment the city is using now.
At the close of the meeting city manager James Ridge offered to cut out a piece of the carpeting that lines the horseshoe to give council members as mementos. No one took him up on the offer but Councillor Taylor did say he might like dibs on his chair.
Frank McKeown, Mayor’s Chief of Staff at the time, attempts to fix the clock in Council Chambers.
The big question on the seating arrangement will be who will occupy the chair usually used by the city manager. His contract is thought to be coming up for renewal and there are some people who are described as heavy hitters who don’t think he has earned a second contract and others who don’t think he will be a good fit for what has the potential to be a much different council – at least three of the seven seat will have new faces.
Craven of ward 1 and Taylor of ward 3 have announced retirements and Meed Ward in ward 2 is running for Mayor – that means at least three new faces
James RIdge’s contract should not be renewed – using taxpayer money to threaten to use taxpayers should not be rewarded