Sarnia council will consider a plan to return to in-person meetings when it meets Monday.
Technology has been upgraded in council chambers to allow a hybrid meeting format which would accommodate those who would still like to participate virtually.
A similar approach was tested for Lambton County Council last Wednesday, and Mayor Mike Bradley thinks it worked great.
"The county council meeting, which was a mixture of people in the room and coming in by ZOOM, went very, very, well," said Bradley. "That's the same direction city council is recommended to take. Obviously, we prefer people to be in the room but if they can't for whatever reason it seems to work very well."
Bradley said anyone can access a meeting at any time now using ZOOM and rules have been changed to allow that.
"There are some real advantages we've learned through the COVID situation. For example, bringing people in from out of town to speak or citizens that want to come and speak."
If approved, city council would hold its first in-person meeting in over two years on May 9.
Bradley said his decision to attend Wednesday's county council meeting virtually was COVID related.
He said he still wanted to keep his distance as confirmed cases of COVID-19 climb in the province.
Mayor Bradley said he also had meetings scheduled before and after the county council meeting so he saved the drive time to Wyoming and back.
"Everyone on county council praised how the meeting worked and it was the first time we've tried this. I can see it in the months and years ahead, when there's a big snow storm for example, people don't have to drive all the way to Wyoming and take that risk. They can just come in, participate and be just as legitimate as being there in person."
In person attendance at council or committee meetings remains contingent upon providing proof of double vaccination for COVID-19.
The policy, set by council last September, did not expire with the suspension of various provisions contained within the vaccination policy for city employees, or with the decision by the province to lift the mandatory vaccination and testing requirements in some other public sector institutions like schools.
City council will also consider a motion from Mayor Bradley that city council meetings begin at 1 p.m. as a trial for the remainder of the term.
"Having daytime meetings for city council works very well. Just like county council meets in the daytime, just like the economic partnership meets in the daytime, just like the police board meets in the daytime and the research board. It's more professional, it allows staff to do their jobs in the daytime, it saves a lot of money, particularly on the city side with IT (information technology) and setups, so I hope council would look at a 1 o'clock start, which is exactly what the City of London is moving to too."
Sarnia council's regular meeting, held virtually, begins at 10 a.m.
