Tiny Township will now meet once every three weeks.
Despite four out of the five council members saying they were hoping to continue with the regular meeting schedule, council agreed to the staff request.
"I think it's important that residents see we're continuing on with business as usual," said Coun. Cindy Hastings. "I think there's a lot of work that's been done behind the scenes. I just think it's good to get back to the regular schedule, but I'm flexible and will do what council wants to do."
Her thoughts were backed by Coun. Tony Mintoff.
"I think in these times of uncertainty, if you will, I think it's important for council to try to keep things as normal as we can in the little areas that we have control over," he said. "I think we should maintain the existing twice monthly schedule. I think it's important for the public to realize it is business as usual as much as we can make it business as usual."
Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma said he recognized that staff was working under a different set of conditions and pointed out that with some working from home and others under strict measures to practise social distancing, it could become a challenge to follow the biweekly meeting schedule.
That being the case, Walma said, he agreed with his colleagues about the importance of showing "it's business as usual" and that the municipality is doing its part to make sure services are delivered as usual and residents have a voice.
So Walma offered a Canadian compromise.
"Maybe we could do a reduced council meeting schedule," Walma said. "One week, we could meet with the CAO and clerk and only invite other staff if a pressing matter came up or we had a resident email in a question. And then once a month we have a full complement of staff."
Hastings said as a proud Canadian she would be happy to support that solution.
Clerk Sue Walton said she could see the idea of a reduced agenda one week and full one the next meeting work even with limited staff.
However, she added, "my only concern would be how often discussion might lead to an impromptu question for one of the senior managers. It's not the best for facilitating discussion."
However, Doug Luker, chief administrative officer, asked if council would consider changing the schedule to once every three weeks.
"It would give staff extra time to prepare any reports they have to present," he said.
Walton said she agreed with that solution.
"I can say that I think every three weeks would be a nice option," she noted. "It gives staff a little more leeway. We could continue to work with the current schedule, but with the pandemic and things happening, it is a very quick turnaround when we've got other things we have to deal with in a quick fashion."
Mintoff said he could support this new schedule, but cautioned that staff might need to prepare for unusual conditions even in post-COVID-19 times.
"I think we all realize that post-COVID-19 many things are going to change," he said. "I heard the clerk's comment about having the departments heads for questions, my sense is for the most part, I would encourage people to think differently about participation of department heads that may not be presenting any reports."
