Committee of the Whole meetings are intended to be a less formal forum for discussing concerns. Meetings take place on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month and comprise of the Mayor and four regular Councillors and shall include the two Water Councillors when matters of water in Water Systems 8 and 9 are being discussed. Staff will attend to speak to their reports, and to answer any questions that Council may have on any matter. A quorum for the Committee of the Whole shall be the same as for Regular Council meetings.

A Committee of the Whole does not have the authority to initiate an action (limited to providing direction to the CAO). Instead, it reviews and gathers information on behalf of Council, relative to a particular topic. Once the committee of the Whole has received the information it requires, a recommendation may be referred to Council for consideration. All Committee of the Whole and other Committee recommendations are forwarded to Council at its Regular Council meetings at which time Council decides whether or not it will adopt the recommendations.

A Special Council meeting is a council meeting other than a statutory, regular or adjourned meeting. Special Council meetings are generally not televised, but are open to the public, unless all or part of the meeting is closed by a vote of council.

In-Camera Council meetings are also known as closed meetings. Prior to a Council closing a meeting or part of a meeting to the public, it has to state, by resolution, the fact that the meeting is to be closed, and the basis in legislation under which the meeting is to be closed. The public is not allowed to attend a closed meeting. The subject matters that are considered at public meetings include, but are not limited to:

• Personal information about identifiable individuals;
• Labour relations or employee negotiations;
• The security of property of the municipality;
• Acquisition or disposition of property, under certain circumstances;
• Litigation, or potential litigation;
• Law enforcement.

The Mayor will invite members of the public to speak according to the Agenda.  Only the speaker at the podium will be recognized, and if there is a delegation, one person should be identified as the representative to speak on behalf of the delegation.

When speaking to Council, you will use “Mayor _______” to directly address the Mayor and "Councillor _______" when directly addressing a Council member. 

State your full name clearly for the record, and indicate any related professional affiliation "My name is ..............".  State the purpose of your address, "I would like to ...............".  Speak within the time allotted, and ensure the information you provide is related to the item on the Agenda.  "This concludes my comments Mayor (Surname)", this advises Council that you are finished your presentation.

The Mayor will invite Council members individually to ask any questions of the speaker.

Again, you will direct your response to the Mayor, not individual Council members, with "Thank you, Mayor________".  If referring to a Council member, use their title, "Councillor", followed by their last name.

Please ensure you answer the question as directed by Council and do not engage in a debate.

If there are no further questions, the Mayor will thank you for your presentation and you may then step down from the podium.