There will be no more viewing of council meetings posted on the town website after the original meeting is concluded.
Viking Council has approved closed committee sessions once a month, and put an end to the practice of posting recorded council meetings on the town website – all in one fell swoop May 21.
The councillors, some of whom campaigned on the need for more transparency on council, stated their need to hold discussions behind closed doors after recent events. They also voted to end the posting of any public meetings they’ve held.
Town council will hold closed session special meetings the first Tuesday of each month. There will be one meeting June 4 before suspending them for the summer months and resuming in September.
Communication has been an issue for council and administration, which is cited as the reason closed session discussions are necessary.
In a report to council on May 21, it was stated that: “Council and administration have both recognized the need for more open communication regarding upcoming projects and issues within the town.”
The extra meetings on the first Tuesday of each month “are meant to supplement these discussions,” stated the report, and would be held in closed session using Freedom of Information and Privacy (FOIP) Section 23, referring to “local public body confidences.”
Communication issues had become obvious when a special meeting was held Monday, May 13, in closed session. A motion by council made after the closed session rejected a resignation letter sent via email from Chief Administrative Officer Doug Lefsrud.
The CAO remains at the administrative helm, and after that council agreed to put in place a closed session committee meeting once a month.
Deputy Mayor Cindy Lefsrud’s suggestion to not hold these meetings in July and August, then start them again in September, was accepted.
Council then approved the new closed session meeting schedule. At least 24 hours notice must be given before holding a special council meeting.
Council also passed a motion to end the posting of recorded regular and special council and committee meetings on the town website.
People will be able to watch the meetings via live broadcast but, if a person misses the actual meeting, they won’t be able to go back and watch it on the town website anymore.
In his report to council, CAO Lefsrud explained his recommended position: “Administration has facilitated the recording and broadcasting of regular council meetings since the beginning of Covid,” he stated. This is an option to view the meetings without visiting the council chambers.”
Before, meetings could be viewed live or downloaded from the town website at a later date for viewing.
His recommendation was that, “As a result of Covid restrictions being lifted and society returning to normal, it is now thought the recording of these meetings for the purpose of being posted on the town website is no longer necessary.”
Lefsrud said the recording of the meeting would “only be saved for administration,” adding: “We will broadcast it live.”
Most of council spoke in favour of ending the practice of posting meetings for later viewing.
Councillor Julianna Merta said meetings have approved minutes that are recorded for the public to read.
But Councillor Judy Acres said people watching meetings can be confused about what has happened at a meeting making it difficult for them to ask questions. And they can’t always view a meeting live or between certain hours of the day.
“I think it is their right,” she said, speaking of the fact people want to know what was discussed at the meetings.
She suggested leaving the posted meeting on the website for a month, until the next month’s meeting.
But Councillor Dana Ewashko disagreed, stating: “I’d say a week at the most. They don’t need a month.”
Acres spoke in favour of having meetings uploaded for two weeks, splitting the difference with Ewashko, but this was not accepted.
“As far as transparency, I don’t know how much more transparent we can be,” said Mayor Jamie Buttner, noting that nobody attended the three public hearings the town has held in the last few months.
Acres agreed that the town’s open houses were also poorly attended.
“Those crying (for) transparency don’t show up and don’t volunteer for anything,” added Buttner.
But Acres wasn’t through defending the need for uploaded meetings so people can view the discussion and debate.
“You don’t always get everything by reading the minutes,” she said, noting that uploading “doesn’t take a lot of cost or time.”
Acres’ motion to keep council recordings up on the website until the next council meeting failed in a 3-2 vote.
Ewashko said he wanted the town to “follow the county’s lead.” His motion for broadcasting the meetings live, but recordings to be kept only for administrative purposes, and “not available for public viewing,” was passed.
Patricia Harcourt
Editor
