Richmond Hill council to allow public delegations in electronic meetings starting April 22

Residents will have chance to address council live for 1st time in a month

Yorkregion.com
April 20, 2020
Sheila Wang 

The public will no longer be shut out of the decision-making process in Richmond Hill as the city will allow public delegations to appear in electronic meetings starting April 22.

It is going to be the first meeting where residents have the opportunity to address council live in almost a month, since representatives switched to electronic meetings on March 25 in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Residents have been able to listen in and watch the deliberations online, but were not permitted to appear as delegations for the first three electronic meetings.

The limited public participation has given rise to concerns that many residents might have been missing out on important decisions.

Concerned residents can now apply in writing to appear as an electronic delegation for council and committee meetings by video conference via the internet or telephone only, according to the city.

Applications are accepted until noon on the day prior to the meeting for council and committee meetings, and applications for council public meetings to consider planning matters are accepted until noon on the day of the meeting.

Applicants are asked to fill out and submit the online Application to Appear Before Committee/Council form, or email the office of the clerk at clerks@richmondhill.ca.

For resident Deborah Mita, however, the move is "helpful for some", but not "equitable" for others.

Earlier, Mita called into question that lack of proper public involvement with respect to the upcoming vote on a revised plan for the Yonge and Bernard key development area, which has since been postponed to May 13.

She said the opportunity to speak on an electronic platform has its shortfalls.

"There is an assumption that all residents have the equipment and technology skills to use this system -- highly unlikely -- therefore denying fair access to participate," Mita wrote in an email April 17.

The clerk's office will provide confirmation of approval and give instructions on how to participate electronically by email or telephone.

The city continues to accept public written submissions, which need to be emailed to the office of the city clerk by noon the day before the meeting.

The next council meeting is scheduled for April 22 at 9:30 a.m.