Sechelt council has passed a special resolution confirming why it is still not able to set up meetings the public can attend in person.
The province issued a ministerial order last month that requires local governments make their “best efforts” to allow the public to physically attend open meetings while still ensuring COVID-19 precautions are being followed.
Corporate officer Jo-Anne Frank told council July 15 that the new order also requires councils unable to accommodate limited public attendance to pass a resolution “stating the reason for holding meetings without the public” and explaining how they meet the goals of openness, transparency, accessibility and accountability without the public being able to attend in person.
The resolution council passed to meet the requirement said the district is “currently exploring options for holding council meetings in a way that will enable council, staff and the public to safely attend.”
In the meantime, the resolution says, the district has been using ZOOM for meetings, “which has enabled council, staff and the public to attend and participate as required … [and] the electronic meeting format has been positively received by the public and has successfully resulted in an opportunity for the public to attend and participate.”
Frank explained that because the Sechelt Public Library still requires use of the Community Room, where council normally meets, staff are looking at other venues.
Frank said the library’s use of the room is providing “a positive service to the community,” and if council were to try to go back to opening it up for meetings, the library would not be able to operate and still meet its COVID protocols.
The most likely second option is the district-owned Seaside Centre, but Frank said there are Internet connectivity issues and other challenges that would have to be sorted out.
Frank said staff hopes to bring some options forward to the next council meeting.
The Town of Gibsons has been complying with the new ministerial order by allowing up to five people to watch meetings, which are still being held via Zoom, on a screen in the council chamber.
