Chatham-Kent councillors agreed that security measures need to be taken, but how many measures was an issue for debate.
A recommendation brought forward by municipal staff suggested controlled access points, capacity limitations, public barriers, and the hiring of security guards.
"Recently, there have been incidents where the public has made verbal threats and had physical altercations with Council members and staff. These situations have created safety concerns for Council, staff, and the public that attend the meetings," a report from administration said.
Ward 2 councillor Ryan Doyle was the one to suggest separating the issues of security guards and the reconfiguration of council chambers.
"I can support the security guards being here... but I can't support spending $30,000 to redo this room when we're about to move potentially within the next couple years," he said.
The idea of hiring security guards was embraced by all councillors and voted for unanimously.
Ward 6 councillor Alysson Storey said that colleagues from other municipalities across Canada were shocked when she told them Chatham-Kent had only recently employed security guards as a safety measure.
"Some other communities, municipalities not far from here have in the past, in this term, suspended in-person meetings entirely and gone to virtual meetings for a period of time. Due to major security concerns," she explained.
"I do wish that we were not in a situation where we were discussing this," Storey said. "But I do feel that if there was ever an example of 'better safe than sorry' this would be it."
The reconfiguration of council chambers is estimated to cost $29,615 and would include installing a waist high barrier and gates between public seating and the council horseshoe. It would also mean new and rearranged seating that would put any participating staff on the east side of the chamber, the public and media would be allocated 69 seats on the west and south sides of the room.
"I do think this is a reasonable expense," Storey stated, adding that if a nearly $30,000 renovation improves the safety of staff, the public, and council it is "absolutely worth it."
Storey is one of the councillors who shared an experience she had in the space that left her feeling unsafe and exposed.
"I have felt genuinely concerned for my safety in this building multiple times since this term has begun," she said. "I know if I'm feeling this way, then others are probably feeling this way."
Ward 4 councillors Jamie McGrail and Rhonda Jubenville also admitted to having scary experiences within the civic centre.
Cathy Hoffman, CK's General Manager of Corporate Services and Chief Human Resources Officer, implored councillors who have never felt unsafe in council chambers to think of other staff who work there.
"Part of the lens that you're looking at this through is through your own interest as a member of council," Hoffman said. "I'd just like to inspire you to also think about the impact that this has on employees."
She stated that many of the municipal employees who take part in council meetings sit with their backs to the public, which can be very disconcerting, and that they must undertake a series of actions to ensure their safety.
"Security guards are not the only method," she said.
The issue of reconfiguring the council chambers did ultimately pass with a vote of 12-4.