Accessibility of York Community Council to the Public
The Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team recommends that the Council Procedural By-law No. 23-1998, be amended, if required, to permit York Community Council to commence the first day of its meeting at 7:00 p.m., rather than at 9:30 a.m., and, further, that York Community Council be requested to report to City Council as to the regular scheduled time they intend to meet.
The Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team submits the following communication (February 19, 1998) from Councillor Frances Nunziata, York-Humber:
I am writing to you in regard to the accessibility of the York Community Council to the public.
As you know, outlined in our Procedural By-law governing Community Councils, reference is made to the responsibility of the Community Council to hear public deputations, involve citizens in neighbourhood issues and dealing with other local issues.
Since your Committee will be examining the role and responsibilities of Community Councils. I would like to suggest that the first day of a required meeting of a Community Council be held in evening sessions. This would in my view, facilitate greater accessibility by the public to these meetings as well as heighten awareness of the role of the Community Council and issues that come before it.
I know that providing the local option to a Community Council on convening evening meetings, has also been suggested by other Members of Council. In any event, in the York Community, evening meetings would be welcomed as providing a better opportunity to participate in the decision-making process.
The Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team also submits the following Notice of Motion:
Moved by: Councillor Nunziata
Seconded by: Councillor Mihevc
Whereas the Procedural By-law governing the duties of the Community Council refers to the responsibility of the Community Council to hear public deputations and to involve citizens in neighbourhood issues;
And whereas evening meetings of a Community Council would allow greater accessibility by the public to the meetings of Community Council and heighten awareness of the role of the Community Council and the issues that come before it;
Therefore be it resolved that the Procedural By-law be amended to allow each Community Council the option of convening their meetings in the evenings.
The Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team reports, for the information of Council, also having had before it a communication (February 20, 1998) from the City Clerk, responding to the communication (February 19, 1998) from Councillor Nunziata, York-Humber, respecting the accessibility of York Community Council to the public; and advising that until such time as the Special Committee has reported to Council on the Role of Community Councils, it is appropriate for any Standing Committee of Council, or Community Councils, depending on issues being considered, to hold evening meetings.
Councillor Frances Nunziata, York-Humber, appeared before the Special Committee to Review the Final Report of the Toronto Transition Team in connection with the foregoing matter.
