I am responding to Bonnie James’ July 16 editorial, Resolutions read without reason, and to the MRC Pontiac’s new meeting procedures bylaw, which offers little guidance on proper meeting protocol and seems more aimed at penalizing citizens in attendance.
The Warden’s excuse for not releasing resolutions before public meetings is laughable.
She claims it could confuse the public if changes are made beforehand. Perhaps what truly concerns her is public suspicion. Who changes a resolution four days or less before a meeting, and why? As someone with years of experience as an elected official in two provinces, she knows resolutions, motions, and bylaws should not be altered between the time the mayors receive them and the meeting where they must vote. Any changes should be made during the meeting by motion to amend, then voted on and recorded. There is nothing confusing about that.
Withholding public meeting documents is the ultimate form of secrecy. Resolutions passed at MRC sessions aren’t published until after the next meeting, when the minutes are approved—sometimes as long as 45 days later. With no meeting in July, the public must wait until after the August 20 session to see any motions, resolutions, or bylaws passed in June—an estimated 70 days or more. All motions take effect the day they are approved and are signed by the Warden soon after. Why aren’t they posted on the website within days? Obtaining them requires a Freedom of Information request, wasting valuable staff time in the process.
We don’t just need open plenary sessions; we need all supporting documents for public meetings to be made available at least four days in advance. This is standard practice in municipalities across many other provinces, with no objections from officials who have learned to debate and discuss public matters openly. When will the Warden and mayors of the MRC Pontiac show this same skill and willingness?
Linda Lafortune,
Otter Lake
