The Committee of the Whole is a new committee of Council that includes all members of Council. The first meeting was held on September 20, 2021.

There are several reasons I support the COTW over the previous committee structure:

1. All elected members of Council get equal participation engaging user groups & the public, in appointing committee members & directing staff, and discussing important issues concerning planning, ec dev, parks etc.
2. Meetings can be less formal and flexible to permit greater time spent on any given topic and provide more opportunities for public input.
3. Attendance of the Clerk ensures legal procedures are followed and reduces liability.
4. Senior staff presence permits answers to Council and public’s questions and fewer committee meetings saves staff time and resources.
5. The COTW is advisory to Council, so it provides us with time to consider before the final decision is made at the Council table.

So far all our COTW meetings have been by zoom and have not been the public engagement tools they are meant to be. Meetings open to the public for hybrid participation, in-person or virtual, in May 2022 and I look forward to seeing residents in attendance again.

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How we got here:

In March 2021 Council identified Committees/Boards: Review and Report as a priority. A 2020 service delivery review by StrategyCorp recommended this committee review, “an optimal number of committees can result in significant timesaving, provide Council oversight on the overall agenda, and reduce staff resources needed to support committees – thereby creating internal capacity to focus on priority initiatives.” The previous committee structure review was in January 2014.

To come up with recommendations, Administration considered:

• the purpose and function of current committees/boards
• regional comparisons
• key literature and legislation
• committee member and staff input
• compensation assessment

You can read the full report that details each of the areas considered, compensation review, strengths and challenges and recommendations.

In July 2021 Council voted to create the Committee of the Whole which replaces and encompasses the Personnel Committee, Striking Committee, Tourism and Economic Development Committee, Parks and Recreation Advsiory Committee, Mettawas Waterfront Park Fundraising Committee and the Planning Advisory Committee.

The new COTW meets on the third Monday of most months at 6pm and is chaired by the Deputy Mayor. Meetings are live streamed and previous meeting videos are available on the Town’s website under Council Calendar.