CORNWALL, Ontario – City administration outlined 16 committees during the City Council meeting on Monday, March 4 that they recommend council reassess as they may no longer be required or effective.
“This is a big issue. We have been talking about committees for a while now and how we want to make changes. So, I think we are all on the same page in terms of the fact that this list…is massive…and it’s a good idea for us to review them,” said Mayor Bernadette Clement.
Councillor Glen Grant tabled a motion to discontinue the 16 committees outlined in administration’s report. His motion was seconded by Councillor Syd Gardiner.
Councillor Carilyne Hebert quickly expressed her concerns with the motion.
“I will vote against this recommendation as I certainly support discontinuing the majority of these committees, but there are a couple I would like to debate individually as I believe some of them have merit,” said Councillor Hebert.
Hebert expressed her interest in keeping the Municipal Environmental Advisory Committee and Youth Advisory Committee.
“Environmental issues are here, they’ve arose, and they aren’t going anywhere…climate change isn’t temporary,” said Councillor Hebert. “I also think the Youth Advisory Committee could be considered…I think the City should be looking at developing a Youth Engagement and Retention Strategy as well.”
Council voted to pass Councillor Glen Grant’s motion. Councillors Hebert, Towndale, Bergeron and Bennett voted against the motion.
“Part of the problem with committees is that, in the past, we have appointed people to committees and then said ‘off you go’, and as a council, we didn’t talk to them for the next four years. So, we’ve seen in the last four years, people become disengaged. They apply for committees, they get on committees and then there’s no liaison or regular relationship with council. Also, committees are not given a mandate,” said Mayor Clement, who voted against the motion. She later discussed entertaining a Mayor’s Advisory Committee or committee in which environmental issues may be addressed.
“All in all, I think it’s going to be a more precise way of dealing with issues in the community,” said Councillor Grant. “I think such things can be done without a committee. There is such things as tasks forces, like a Mayor’s Tasks Force, that could address specific issues that need to be dealt with through term.”
Grant said that a Mayor’s Task Force may likely be discussed during a strategic planning session in the future. Similarly, Councillor Hebert expressed interest in presenting a motion to council at a later time that would address youth and environmental advisory initiatives.
Administration offered to implement committee schedules and better define when updates to council are necessary to help members achieve committee goals and alleviate planning tasks.
The following committees have been discontinued:
Budget Steering Committee
Building Industry Liaison Advisory Committee
Council Compensation Committee
Economic Development Strategic Plan Implementation Advisory Committee
Fire Master Plan Implementation Committee
Heritage Property Tax Relief Program Committee
Municipal Environmental Advisory Committee
Municipal Tax Registration Policy
Official Plan/Urban Settlement Boundary Steering Committee
Personnel Committee
Port Divestiture Committee
Property Standards Advisory Committee
Recreation Advisory Committee
Review of Community Agencies Committee
Skateboard/BMX Sub-Committee
Youth Advisory Committee
