Council

Council meetings are open to the general public. There is a seating area located in the Council Chambers for members of the public to observe the meetings. Members of the public are asked to refrain from addressing Council members during the meeting. Members of the public are invited to participate in the meeting during the Public Meetings session when matters related to land use planning or drainage works are scheduled or by contacting the Clerk by 12:00 p.m. on the day prior to the meeting to speak to an item on the Council agenda.

Council is required from time to time to adjourn the public portion of the Council meeting and move into a Closed Meeting session.  Members of the public will be asked to leave the Council Chambers during this time period.  A closed meeting session is required for Council to discuss a variety of issues that could include: the security of the property of the municipality; personal matters about identifiable individuals including municipal employees; proposed or pending acquisitions of land for municipal purposes; litigation or potential litigation: and matters relating to the consideration of a request under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

In most cases, citizen concerns can be resolved by Township staff. If the appropriate municipal staff cannot resolve your issue, they can usually provide advice about the appropriate next steps to take, one of which could be to appear before Township Council as a delegation.   

Anyone who wishes to make a presentation to Council is required to make an appointment by contacting the Clerk who will advise of the best date and time to make a presentation. If there are multiple delegates wishing to address an issue, the Clerk may encourage them to select one spokesperson to present their views within the allotted time frame. Any documentation to be presented should be delivered to the Township Office by the Wednesday before the the meeting for inclusion in the distributed Council package. Delegations are permitted to speak for only 15 minutes, but may extend their speaking time with the permission of Council.

Anyone wishing to speak to an item on a published agenda may do so by contacting the Clerk no later than 12:00 p.m. on the day prior to the Council meeting. Delegations speaking to an agenda item shall be limited to three (3) minutes and Council will not ask questions or enter into a debate or discussion at this time, on the subject matter of the delegation.

As a delegation, you should not speak disrespectfully of any person, use offensive words, speak on any subject other than the subject for which you have received approval, disobey any decision of the Mayor, or enter into cross debate with other delegations, staff, or Members of Council. 

For more information about Council Delegations, please contact our Clerk at 519-485-2490 ext 7228.