If you are interested in what went on at last evening's virtual town hall meeting hosted by North Bay City Council, hopefully, someone you know recorded it.
The meeting, billed as a forum for members of the public to broach subjects and bring to Council's attention matters pertaining to municipal business was live-streamed beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday but has since vanished from virtual existence.
Council and committee meetings, plus budget meetings and some special ceremonies are typically live-streamed and, for the last few years, the videos are posted following the meetings to the City's website and YouTube channel for access by the public, media, and any other interested parties.
According to the City of North Bay, these town hall events fall into a different category.
A note on the City's website reads: "No agendas, minutes or video recordings are generated for this meeting. Visit the Meetings, Agendas and Minutes page to access the live stream."
Communications Officer Gord Young explains the "procedural bylaw was created prior to Covid-19 and it was never really contemplated that the town halls would be held electronically. It was envisioned that they would be held at different locations in the community like Memorial Gardens."
So, why not create and make available a public video record of the town hall meeting?
"It was brought to our attention that the City’s procedural bylaw specifies that town halls will not be recorded. As such, the Sept. 10th town hall was removed from YouTube and Thursday’s meeting was not recorded," advises Young.
So, if an interested member of the community wants to review something said during a presentation, there is no virtual way to do so through the City's website. Hypothetically, if a member of Council promised to look into something or follow up with a citizen about a concern, there is also no record of such a statement.
As far as making exceptions to the procedural by-law, perhaps this approach could have been taken with the town hall meetings? All it takes is the will of Council, such as with the vote Tuesday to extend electronic participation into next July.
See related story: Council could meet virtually well into 2021
According to section 10.5 of the City's procedural by-law, "The proceedings of Town Hall Meeting will not be recorded and minutes will not be available."
The town hall meetings were never intended to be recorded "because the meetings are non-statutory and were intended to be held in-person in different locations where recording them may be challenging or not possible," says Young, expanding on the City's position.
