Region of Queens council is looking into the possibility of adding a Committee of the Whole to their calendar.

Mayor Darlene Norman says the idea of adding a Committee of the Whole meeting was floated in an effort to more fully explore issues that come to council.

“Some members of council basically felt they do not have enough time to debate things and then go out to the public and get the public response,” said Norman.

The mayor supports the motion to add the committee brought forward by Councillor Maddie Charlton at July’s Region of council meeting.

In her previous terms on council, Norman says there were several committees but subsequent councils did away with them.

Norman expressed concern that should they decide to replace a council meeting with a committee of the whole meeting it could slow some services down.

“Right now, we can move a planning matter through in three months, following the recommended time for hearings and public hearings,” said Norman. “With a once a month council and a committee of the whole, we’re looking at five and six months to move a planning matter through.”

Adding another meeting is not the only option on the table to try and help councillors be better prepared to address issues at the council table.

“Perhaps getting the agenda a week earlier so then they have a week to go out and consult and debate,” said Norman.

Should council decide to bring in a committee of the whole they would also have look at making changes to their rules of order.

Currently, the municipality follows Bourinot’s Rules of Order, which wouldn’t allow anything discussed at COW to be discussed again at council.

To do anything more than vote on an issue would require council to change their own rules and procedures.

Council has directed staff to come back with a list outlining the pros and cons of committee of the whole and will make a decision based on the staff recommendation.

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