Markham considering stretch breaks, speaking limits during meetings

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 24, 2017
By Amanda Persico

We all know sitting is now the new smoking.

Markham council is looking the change its meeting culture by adding health-and-wellness breaks during daylong meetings.

Studies have shown prolonged sitting can lead to high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

According to the national nonprofit organization ParticipACTION, about a third of Canadians say they spend too much time in meetings, with about one in five committed to an entire business day or eight hours of meetings a week.

Committees usually take up most of the day, followed by back-to-back meetings, while council meetings are held in the evening with close to half going past midnight.

There are two schools of thought - stand up and stretch or sit down and plow through the business of the day.

Many Markham councillors are in favour of a stretch break after sitting for two hours.

“Breaks help make better decisions,” Coun. Valerie Burke said. “This is not just about us. This is about our staff who are sitting through the meetings.”

But some argue taking breaks only make meetings longer, wasting staff time and taxpayer money.

“We’re here to do serious business,” Coun. Logan Kanapathi. “We can’t be taking these luxuries. A ten-minute stretching break won’t make a difference in my life.”

Kanapathi argued a one-hour lunch break is sufficient time to eat and take a ‘half-hour yoga class.’

There is concern a 10-minute break takes longer than 10 minutes.

One suggestion is to have a bell or chime reminding councillors to return, similar to chimes heard during a theatre intermission.

To help limit the length of meetings, councillors also implemented a five-minute speaking limit on both sides of the council table - for residents, groups and councillors.

Councillors should be setting the example, Coun. Karen Rea said.

“We can’t blame the residents for how long the meetings are,” she said. “Three people speaking don’t make the meetings longer. It’s us here who make the meetings longer.”

To avoid hearing the same delegation twice, those wishing to speak will be limited to either council or committee meetings.