New rules will allow for recorded votes at committee meetings

Councillors will soon have more flexibility as to when they can request recorded votes.

The changes will be coming thanks to a motion by Councillor Nick Dubanow at the August 25 council meeting. Currently, the town’s procedural rules prohibit recorded votes at council-in-committee meetings, meaning councillors have to vote to waive the rules of procedure before allowing for a recorded vote in those meetings.

“It’s one of the rights we have as elected officials sitting in this venue to ask for a recorded vote if we feel strongly on an issue,” Dubanow said.

According to Dubanow’s motion, there’s nothing in the Municipal Act that restricts towns and cities from allowing recorded votes in committee meetings.

For the majority of votes that take place at meetings, it’s done on consensus, with a simple raising of hands to indicate support. However, in some cases councillors will ask for a recorded vote so their position is officially on the record. This can happen for especially contentious items or when it’s something a councillor feels especially passionate about.

Dubanow said in previous terms the rules prohibiting recorded votes in committee meetings weren’t always enforced. More recently a request for recorded vote was denied and another request required a waiving of the rules.

Councillor Ann-Marie Noyes supported the motion and said she too remembers some confusion in the past when the recorded vote rules were and weren’t enforced. However, she pointed out that staff may want to do a more fulsome review of the rules of procedure, suggesting there may be other aspects that are out of date or in need of tweaking.

Stay Informed

Events, offers, contests, and breaking news, all delivered straight to your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Subscribe