Special meeting that no one got to watch- now we know why

By Pepper Parr

February 16th, 2024

BURLINGTON, ON

OPINION

Some movement on that Special Council Meeting that the public was not able to see on the webcast.

There was no information on the city website about a Special meeting of Council – even though the Mayor had advised her colleagues not to leave after the adjournment of a meeting of Council.

We waited to watch the webcast once the room has been “reset”.

When we saw nothing we reached out to Councillor Paul Sharman who assured us there was nothing much of interest.

We then reached out to the City Clerk.  The answer to the questions we asked is as follows:

The meeting after Council was a continuation of the closed session meeting that was entered into on January 12, 2024, with respect to the City Manager interviews and deliberations.

As per the motion, the notice provisions are waived for this meeting. A report out in open session is forthcoming.

First question is:  How long did the meeting last?

Second question is: Why do they need two days to report out on a meeting ?  That level of information is usually given when the come out of the CLOSED session.

We have suspected that the meeting was related to the position of city manager.   Tim Commisso is scheduled to leave at the end of June.  The interviewing process is currently taking place.

The City did send us the Minutes for the February 12th meeting.  How you date the minutes February 12 for a meeting that took place on the 14th is beyond us.

Those minutes are set out in their entirety:

Special Meeting of Council Minutes

Members Present:
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, Kelvin Galbraith, Lisa Kearns, Rory Nisan, Paul Sharman, Angelo Bentivegna

Member Regrets: Shawna Stolte

Staff Present:Tim Commisso, Samantha Yew (Deputy Clerk), Sue Evfremidis, Richard Bellemare (Audio/Video Specialist), Debbie Hordyk

  Note: This City Council meeting was conducted using a hybrid model, allowing members of Council, city staff and delegations the option of participating remotely or in- person.

1. Call to Order:
2. Regrets:
3. Land Acknowledgement:

The Chair read the land acknowledgement.

4. Approval of the Agenda:

Moved by: Councillor Sharman Seconded by: Councillor Nisan

Approve the agenda as presented.

CARRIED

5. Declarations of Interest:

None.

6. 6. 6. Delegations:
         • Jim Thompson spoke regarding City Manager Recruitment (HR-02-24)
      7. Items to be considered at the Special Meeting of Council:
      8. City Manager Recruitment (HR-02-24)

   Set out in blue below is the information we had to chase the Communication

Moved by: Councillor Bentivegna Seconded by: Councillor Kearns

That Council proceed into Special Council Closed Session meetings in January and February 2024, to conduct confidential interviews and deliberations related to the recruitment of the City Manager position pursuant to Municipal Act, 2001 sections:

239(2)(b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees, and

239(2)(k), a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board; and

Direct the City Clerk to schedule Special Council Closed Session meetings as required to conduct confidential interviews and deliberations for City Manager position in the months of January and February pursuant to Municipal Act, 2001 sections:

239(2)(b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees, and

239(2)(k), a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board, and;

That this resolution satisfies the Closed Session meeting requirements set out in section 239(4)(a) of the Municipal Act, 2001 and Section 27.2 of the City’s Procedure By-law for any meetings scheduled for the purpose of City Manager interviews and deliberations; and

Waive the notice and agenda provisions of the Procedure By-law including sections 22.1, 24.5, 24.6 for all meetings called for the purpose of City Manager interviews and deliberations; and

Waive the Closed Session provisions of section 27.6 of the Procedure By- law to allow the result of these meetings be reported collectively out at future meeting of Council, where Chair will accept a motion regarding the matters discussed in the closed sessions, or alternatively advise that direction had been given to staff during the closed sessions in accordance with the Municipal Act.

IN FAVOUR: (6): Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Sharman, and Councillor Bentivegna

CARRIED (6 to 0)

• Motion to Receive and File Information Items:

Moved by: Councillor Nisan Seconded by: Councillor Galbraith

Receive and file information items, having been considered by Council:

CARRIED

 Delegation notes from Jim Thomson regarding City Manager Recruitment (HR-02-24)

9. Motion to Confirm Proceedings of the Council Meeting:

Moved by: Councillor Sharman Seconded by: Councillor Galbraith

Enact and pass By-law Number 01-2024 being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of Special Council at its meeting held January 12, 2024 being read a first, second and third time.

IN FAVOUR: (6): Mayor Meed Ward, Councillor Galbraith, Councillor Kearns, Councillor Nisan, Councillor Sharman, and Councillor Bentivegna

CARRIED (6 to 0)

 Motion to Adjourn:

Moved by: Councillor Nisan Seconded by: Councillor Kearns

Adjourn this Council now to meet again at the call of the Mayor. 9:15 a.m. (recess), 9:17 a.m. (reconvene), 9:18 a.m. (adjourned)

CARRIED
Samantha Yew
Deputy Clerk

Marianne Meed Ward
Mayor

Related news story:

Councillor Sharman assures the Gazette

Salt with Pepper is the musings, reflections and opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette, an online newspaper that was formed in 2010 and is a member of the National Newsmedia Council.