Northumberland County council is standing by its procedural rules after Cobourg councillor Lucas Cleveland was unable to participate in the April 16 council meeting virtually.
In a statement issued the following day, Warden Brian Ostrander explained that council’s procedural by-law requires in-person attendance for all members, with exceptions allowed only for specific circumstances, including emergencies, severe weather, illness or injury, quarantine, or public health capacity restrictions.
“At Wednesday’s meeting of County Council, a member of Council requested to participate electronically,” Ostrander said. “Under the Council Procedural By-law, in-person attendance is required for all Council members, with limited exceptions including a declared emergency, severe weather, personal illness or injury, quarantine, or capacity restrictions as identified by Public Health. Council members are also able to attend Emergency Special Meetings of Council electronically.”
Ostrander added that if a member cannot attend in person, municipalities can appoint an alternate to represent them.
“To allow electronic participation outside of the defined exceptions-as in Wednesday’s case-Council would need to pass a motion to suspend the rules of the Procedural By-law,” he said. “While I read such a motion at the request of the member, the motion did not receive a mover or seconder and therefore did not proceed to a vote. As a result, the member was unable to participate in the meeting.”
Ostrander noted that virtual attendance at committee meetings is sometimes allowed, particularly when the attending member is not a voting representative. He concluded that the current rules, approved in 2023, apply equally to all members and are intended to promote collaboration and informed decision-making.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)