By Pepper Parr
December 11th, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
We did a short piece earlier in the day on the way the city and Chairs of Standing Committees manage items that are on the Consent items part of an agenda.
Ward 3 Councillor Rory Nisan
Councillor Rory Nisan said “it’s pretty clear that items placed on the consent agenda include but are not limited to those with no delegation.”
We wondered just who it is that determines what should be on the Consent agenda and put that question to the Communications department.
The response:
section 26.3 (a) of the procedure by-law:
26.3 During the Agenda Review, the Mayor/Chair with the support of City Manager/SRT members in attendance may: a) move any item under the Consent Agenda section of the Agenda.
Report authors can also select to place the report on the agenda if they feel their report matches the procedure by-law definition of a Consent Agenda:
“Consent Agenda” means a listing of items that include, but are not limited to, those with no delegations, where no discussion is anticipated, informational items, and routine matters.
A report author approver could also move the report off the consent agenda during agenda review if they feel it does not meet the consent agenda definition.
The sense one gets it that a group of people determine what is going to get debate and discussion time.
The reference to “SRT members in attendance” confused us; we weren’t familiar with the acronym SRT.
Turns out it is the Strategy & Risk Team. Where is the risk in putting an item on a public agenda; which begs the question – what’s going on here?
Marianne Meed Ward made transparency a mantra that she used to become a member of City Council.
The Council speaks about being transparent and accountable. Marianne Meed Ward made it a mantra for her when she was first running for a city Council seat; those who voted for her expected her to deliver on that mantra.
Burlington is fortunate in having a number of people (not nearly enough of them) who check the Consent Agenda and if they feel it needs time they will delegate to speak to the matter.
Related news story:
Councillor Nisan explains his ruling on Consent items
IMO, Councillor Nisan has misinterpreted the criteria for being on the Consent Agenda; specifically, “Consent Agenda” means a listing of items that include, but are not limited to, those with no delegations, where no discussion is anticipated, informational items, and routine matters.” It means that other things, not specifically listed, may be on the Consent Agenda and the general qualifying factor is that such items do not need to be discussed at Committee or Council. It does not mean that items for which there are delegations and which, therefore, require some discussion, can be put on the Consent Agenda. The qualifying phrase “but are not limited to” is equivalent to “without limiting the generality of the foregoing”. He is using a reverse logic to exclude things from discussion.
Absolutely correct Blair. Obviously based on your years of experience we would guess in an associated career position. We don’t know what as you have always been shy about blowing your own horn.