Early Agenda Release Raises Concerns

Sarnia councillors are now receiving their agendas on the Tuesday prior to Monday council meetings instead of on Thursday. Mayor Mike Bradley is concerned that could limit his ability as mayor and chair to set the agenda. "It's the mayor that decides what's in camera and what isn't. If there are charges laid through the ombudsman on violation of the Open Meeting Act, it is directed at the mayor and council, not at staff." On January 18th, council passed Matt Mitro's motion to change the agenda distribution date to afford councillors more time to understand it and ask questions of staff. Mitro doesn't think the mayor's responsibilities will be affected. "The mayor is a full time position, he's in the building, he has many opportunities to have input throughout the process in setting each one of the things that will ultimately come to council." A non-agenda report from January 26th says agendas will still be made available to the public and media on Thursdays. The mayor's news conference, a tradition dating back six decades, will continue to be held on Friday mornings but Bradley says councillors could make reports available to the media earlier in the week. Mitro believes councillors should hold their own public conferences to review the agenda, something he plans to act on in the future.