By Jaime Myslik
ELORA – Councillor Kirk McElwain has put forward a motion to discuss the possibility of Centre Wellington creating two new committees.
McElwain introduced the motion on Jan. 21 but it could not be discussed at that time under the Municipal Act.
The motion will be discussed at the Feb. 25 meeting.
“We don’t talk about it now, we don’t introduce it now,” said Mayor Kelly Linton.
“It’s just there for you to research and to come ready to discuss at the next council meeting.”
McElwain said that oversight is central to a municipal council’s responsibility.
“Committee of the whole does not provide a forum that allows detailed discussions by councillors and/or citizens in key decision making related to the township budget or infrastructure services,” McElwain wrote.
“And whereas advisory committees do provide such a forum.”
His motion asks council to consider adding a finance and corporate services committee to address operational issues in finance, corporate services, budget and other services.
In recent budget discussions Centre Wellington councillor Stephen Kitras has also been calling for a budget committee that would be involved in budget development.
McElwain also asked for council to consider a community and infrastructure services committee.
The responsibility of this committee would be to look at operational issues with community and infrastructure services.
The motion goes on to ask the township to consider appointing a council representative to each committee as the chair and spokesperson.
In his second motion he asked that the township circulate agendas of the development review committee meetings to all of council.
“The development review committee is the only forum within the township process where all new development is discussed and decisions related to the development are reviewed,” he wrote.
McElwain also asked that councillors be allowed to attend the development review committee meetings “that (the councillor) feels would be a benefit to their understanding of development in their ward.”
The next regular council meeting for Centre Wellington is scheduled for Feb. 25 at 7pm in the council chamber at 1 MacDonald Square in Elora.
