Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jul 17/98) - A complete overhaul of the rules governing the operation of city council is about to be made public.

At Monday's committee of the whole meeting, council will review the first draft of a new procedures bylaw.

In rewriting the bylaw, clerk Tim Mercer said he focused on three objectives, namely:

1. responding to public concerns about the conduct of in camera meetings, public hearings, and the setting of agendas for meetings

2. changing the order council deals with business, to ensure decisions are made earlier in meetings

3. improving the efficiency of debate in meetings.

Mercer said the draft suggests in camera discussion be limited to 10 areas.

"Our legislation is extremely permissive," noted Mercer. "It allows council to move in camera to discuss whatever, in council's opinion, it is in the public interest to discuss in camera. What we're trying to do is tighten that up."

Among the 10 matters the draft says in camera sessions should be limited to are: personnel, legal, land, health and safety, security and maintenance of law and order.

The requirement that two thirds of council approve a decision to go in camera, and that the move be made in the public interest, would still be in place.

Additionally, the draft recommends regular meetings of council be shifted an hour ahead, from a 7 p.m. Monday start to 6 p.m. The curfew for meetings would also be moved from 11 p.m. to 10 p.m.

"Council is often making their decisions later in the day, when they're tired," said Mercer. "We want council to be making the tough decisions earlier in the meeting."

Switching the time and order of council meetings, limiting the issues that can be discussed in camera and expanding the amount of public notice required for meetings are among the other rule changes being considered for council.

Mercer began revamping council's procedures bylaw in March.

Recommendations made at Monday's meeting will be incorporated into the draft.

At its July 27 meeting, council will debate the bylaw and, barring any major objections, give it first reading.

At the same meeting a public hearing will be held to gather input. A tentative date of Aug. 10 has been set for second and final reading of the bylaw.