The first week of the second half of the 2022-26 Council term reflected the gloomy mood of a city watching the final demolition of the Gore Park buildings.
How did we end up here?
The empty hole in Gore Park was matched by the emptiness of the City Council Chamber on Tuesday for the Mayor’s promised public delegation night on Transparency, Access, and Accountability.
Nobody was in the Chamber – just city staff and the task force members. No members of council, no delegates, and just me in the public gallery reporting. There was one video delegation from an out-of-town landlord.
[Mayor Andrea Horwath has announced another delegation night for Tuesday, December 3. The Mayor, City Manager Marnie Cluckie, and senior city staff will be present to hear from the public. This is your opportunity to speak at City Hall to provide your feedback on any topic, your ideas on anything city-related, it is as close to open mic as City Hall gets.]
Council’s Audit Finance and Administration deadlocked on Thursday over a staff recommendation to end one of the longest-standing and effective means of direct citizen-council engagement.
Since 2001, when the City of Hamilton was created through amalgamation, City staff have sought to eliminate citizen-led advisory committees. Each time staff tried in the past, the advisory committees have mobilized against disbandment. Two years ago, at the beginning of this council term, the Deputy City Clerk convinced Council to pause the committees, pending a review to enable them to be more effective.
Two years later, with no advisory committees to speak out as in the past, staff may get their wish.
Councillors on the Audit, Finance, and Administration Committee tied 4-4 on the vote to end this important venue of citizen engagement. The full Council will vote on Wednesday.
Reviewing the 2022 election platforms of the council members. All promised more transparency and engagement if elected. None of them ran on a platform to eliminate advisory committees.
On Monday, Council will vote on a staff recommendation to end public correspondence on the Council ratification agendas. Staff also propose new restrictions on delegations to Council. Two years ago.
What will Council do?
This was first published in TPR's Email Edition Email Edition Date: November 25, 2024 Link to this Newsletter Edition Subscribe to the Newsletter here.