Sarnia council will consider procedural changes for its meetings on Monday.
Mayor Mike Bradley said a number of modifications are proposed, including a one year pilot project that allows participants to attend in person or virtually.
"This all developed because of what we went through during COVID," said Bradley. "Before we opposed having delegates come in by ZOOM, or councillors said they should be in attendance, but we've experimented with it, we've seen it has worked, and the county [Lambton] has adopted a one year pilot project to allow councillors, and delegations, and others, to come on the meetings by ZOOM. I think that's worth trying for a year and I'm recommending the same thing to Sarnia city council."
Bradley said his recommendations were written before council imposed mandatory vaccinations.
"However, it does accommodate that. It allows people to participate in the meeting if they're not vaccinated. It also allows people who are vaccinated, who do not want to be in a meeting with someone who isn't and has declared themselves that way, to come in by ZOOM."
Bradley is recommending meetings continue to be held at 10 a.m. for the next year.
"We found meeting at 10 a.m., just like the county has done for years and like other cities are doing, is very business-like and professional. With ZOOM, we can save the cost and time for delegations to come in and to make their case if they're from out of the city, and at the same time, get the same end result from a vote of council."
Council will also consider a separate recommendation to postpone in-person meetings until January 2022.
"Yes, the city clerk is recommending we wait until January, and given the [COVID-19 active cases] numbers are rising in this community, given the different changes, the sands have shifted continuously on COVID and reopenings, it makes sense. One of the bigger issues is the council chamber itself is just not available for the number of people that would have to be in there and have them following the rules of the province as it relates to social distancing."
Council will consider each recommendation at its regular meeting at 10 a.m.
