There is a hint of political correctness in the composition of a re-formed municipal committee, a city councillor suggests, with certain constituent groups represented that may not add anything to discussions.
The environment advisory committee and the public works advisory committee recently combined to form the public works, infrastructure and environment advisory committee, after city administration reviewed all municipal committees and boards and suggested to city council that changes be made to those structures.
The re-formed committee held its first meeting recently and made four recommendations about how it should operate. Those recommendations were discussed during city council’s Dec. 9 regular meeting.
Council voted 5-1 to amend the committee’s terms of reference to include one representative each from 15 Wing Canadian Forces Base, Holy Trinity Catholic School Division and Prairie South School Division, bringing the committee’s total number to 12.
Coun. Brian Swanson was opposed, while Coun. Chris Warren was absent.
Council voted unanimously to set the meeting dates of the committee to the first Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. or at the call of the chair.
Council voted 5-1 against a motion that all agenda items be received 10 days prior to the meeting date. Coun. Dawn Luhning was in favour.
Council voted unanimously to amend the terms of reference to ensure all members appointed to this committee be residents of Moose Jaw, with the exception of the representative of 15 Wing airbase, who can reside in Bushell Park.
Discussion
The public works, infrastructure and environment advisory committee can advise city council about issues around roads, bridges, sidewalks, waterworks, and environmental issues, Swanson pointed out.
However, he continued, it is composed of one representative each from city council, the chamber of commerce, the Wakamow Valley Authority, the seniors’ community, a youth, and the Aboriginal community, the special needs community, plus two members of the general public, along with the three new members just added.
“To me … other than the political correctness of all that, I’m not sure why that would bring anything extra to a discussion of public works and infrastructure … ,” he added, “when I think a committee like that should be more open to the general public and we would be looking for people with interest in those areas, as opposed to being a certain age or representing a school board.
“This restructuring of committees, we’re down this path, but I don’t know if it makes much sense.”
Swanson was also concerned about the motion that wanted all agenda items added 10 days before the meeting. He noted that’s not a common practice, since he could see when an item might need to be added after that 10-day deadline. He wondered what problem was being solved with this motion.
Committee members said they sometimes had reports added at the last minutes and weren’t able to read them, not unlike what happens at city council, explained city clerk Myron Gulka-Tiechko. This suggested motion is a show of respect so the members can read the reports beforehand and have the information to make decisions.
The reports are usually kept at the clerk’s office and can be circulated to committee members, Gulka-Tiechko added. This motion would put the onus on people who want to bring reports forward to do so in advance.
“That is what tabling motions for,” replied Swanson. “The committee always has the right to table for further information and to wait.”
Special needs advisory committee
Council voted unanimously to have a representative from the special needs advisory committee be included on the public works, infrastructure and environment advisory committee.
There used to be a special needs member on the transportation committee, which has since been folded into the re-formed public works, infrastructure and environment group, explained Coun. Scott McMann. The special needs committee believes it needs a representative on that latter group since some residents have certain transportation requirements.
Swanson supported the addition of the special needs representative, but reiterated his concern that the committee members were there based on their age or ethnicity, which he thought “wreak(ed) of political correctness.” He added that having 12 members set up that committee to produce ineffective work.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Dec. 16.
