With an extension approved Tuesday, North Bay City Council, municipal boards, and committees will continue to have the power to meet virtually well into next spring, if deemed necessary.
"Due to the uncertainty of the current pandemic, it is being recommended that Council further amend its Procedural By-Law to allow Members of Council and
Members of Local Boards or Committees to participate electronically in meetings until April 30, 2022," reads a report from City Clerk Karen McIsaac. "If during this time it is determined that Council can safely participate in in-person meetings in the Council Chambers, the amendment can be rescinded and in-person Council Meetings may be resumed."
North Bay's council has been meeting virtually since the spring of 2020 but a concrete solution to resuming in-person meetings "safely under the current public health guidelines and gathering limits," has not been reached says Gord Young, Communications Officer with the City of North Bay.
"There has not yet been a date set for resuming in-person meetings," Young confirms, Wednesday.
See related: Virtual municipal meetings may continue until the end of the year
And: Still work to be done to resume in-person municipal meetings
Coun. Bill Vrebosch spoke during Tuesday's regular meeting on the topic and advised returning to in-person meetings "would be so expensive we couldn't afford it," due to the adaptations necessary at North Bay City Hall.
He added, "Our council chambers are not ready at this time. This is basically a precautionary item to give the Clerk power, and Council power to stay in these types of [online] meetings. Personally, I would like to go back to in-person but, at present time, with this [Omicron] virus that's out there, we don't know how this is going to affect us."
Young noted in October the dilemma faced by staff is "how to best configure the council chambers, as well as any potential modifications that may be required to how we conduct in-person meetings," while accommodating Council members, staff, public presenters, media, and spectators safely.
