Council Preview
By John Swartz
Orillia council is meeting February 17 at noon in closed session. The stated reason is, “Input from Council on Staff and Structure. (Personal)”
There are no accompanying reports or explanations. The Ontario Ombudsman’s office states, council must “Pass a resolution in public that includes meaningful information about the issue to be considered (not just the exception) before closing the doors,” something which has not been done consistently of late (prior council included)
The Ombudsman also defines personal as, “Personal matters about an identifiable individual.”
This meeting will eventually go public and should have a motion indicating what action is to be taken, though as with how inadequately council has been declaring reasons for going into closed session, motions have been equally as informative.
The public can be in chambers before and after the closed session. There is no announced plan to televise the proceedings.
(Photos by Swartz – SUNonline/Orillia)
