Interesting drama at North Bay City Council when a ‘confidential motion’ slated for an in-camera session, moved by Sara Inch and seconded by Jamie William Lowery, was brought up to be added to the council meeting agenda. It called for public discussion of municipal matters, even though that may include identifiable personnel on city or board staff.
The motion was lost when two councilors objected, stopping consideration in its tracks by using a rarely-cited procedural bylaw sub-section. Councilors Lana Mitchell and Mac Bain wasted little time saying they “object”. Councilors Inch and Lowery weren’t even allowed to speak to their motion, the usual practice when a motion makes it to the agenda.
37.2. (a) The business shall be taken up in the order in which it stands upon the Agenda in all cases except where a majority of the Members otherwise agree.
(b) A Motion which is not listed on the Agenda may be presented at Council Meetings, if not more than one Member present at the Meeting objects to its consideration.
Meeting video starts at 51:12 … Council goes in-camera for private discussions, but not before several members of the crowd applaud and thank Coun. Inch for her efforts. Council reconvenes two hours later and quickly closes the session (Mayor Chirico and Coun. Inch didn’t return to the chamber for the last part).
Writer, photographer and proud father. My mom's family is from the Soo with its Algoma Highlands, dad hailed from Cobden in the Ottawa Valley and I spent my teen years in Capreol. Summers were at the beach on the Vermillion River and winters at 'The Rink.' Born in East York but Toronto never was my thing. Ever since a kid looking out the window on long trips, I imagined living on the highway in a little house with a big yard and trees growing all around me.
