SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - City council spent 30 minutes debating when to hold their meetings and whether they should include a free meal Monday morning.

All members of council agreed the two standing committees of council - the Priorities, Policies and Budget Committee and the Municipal Services Committee - should have their meetings combined into one, but they couldn't agree on a time. Coun. Bob Brooks started the discussion by pointing out this is a "pet issue" of his.

"I absolutely agree that combining the meetings to one is a better use of time and clerk resources ... (but) I absolutely disagree that the meeting should start at 9 a.m."

Reading from a page of typed notes, Brooks pointed out most councillors have day jobs that will prevent them from attending meetings early in the morning.

"Most people can't take off a whole morning every single week to attend regular council business," Brooks said. "So it would mean that only self-employed or retired people could stand for council.

To solve the problem, Brooks recommended meetings be held at noon, and lunch be included as the "cost of doing business."

"I remember some of the arguments we had in some of the previous meetings - people described our lunches as perks, which made me laugh out loud.

"No one in their right mind could say we get lunches as a perk - a sandwich, sometimes with a salad, never any dessert, fruit, vegetables, or milk or juice, just water. Does that sound like a perk to you? No, but it does sound like a working lunch," he said with a smile.

Lunches are currently provided for free to council when meetings are held over the lunch hour.

Coun. Lydia Bardak followed Brooks saying she agreed with the 12 p.m. start time, but she'd be willing to throw in five or ten dollars for a sandwich.

"It's not all about us," she said. "(We need) to ensure public attendance when there are issues of interest to them."

Council agreed public participation is a priority, but a time couldn't be agreed upon.

Couns. Cory Vanthuyne, Brooks, Lydia Bardak, Amanda Mallon and David Wind agreed the meetings should be held at noon, while others threw around 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.

Councillors were also split on the issue of lunch. Wind agreed with Brooks that a modest lunch should be included, while Coun. Paul Falvo suggested people pack a lunch.

"I think if we can save $10,000 a year, it's worth brown bagging it."

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