City of Powell River staff will be looking at revisions to the policy related to in camera procedures.
At the March 16 committee of the whole meeting, councillors reviewed a letter from resident Pat Martin, who stated she was writing a third time regarding release of in camera minutes and documentation. She stated that to date, council has not adequately addressed the issue of in camera meeting minutes and has not given any indication on when the city’s webpage will be updated.
Martin indicated the BC ombudsperson’s report states that local governments should record minutes for closed meetings in at least as much detail as open meetings, and when the minutes are eventually released, will inform members of the public and reassure them the matter was properly discussed in a closed meeting and procedural requirements were satisfied.
Martin asked if the city takes in camera meeting minutes. She stated that if not, would the city begin to do so.
She asked what decisions have been made by city council so this outstanding work will be addressed. Her final question was when can the public expect forward movement on this issue.
Councillor George Doubt said he wondered if the chief administrative officer (CAO) had any comment. Doubt said one of the details requested in the letter is whether or not minutes from in camera meetings would be released.
“I wonder what the CAO’s feeling was or if he has any comments about that aspect of announcing what happens in camera,” said Doubt.
Chief administrative officer Russell Brewer said minutes are taken at in camera meetings. He said Martin’s letter asked what decisions have been made by city council so the work that is outstanding will be addressed. There has been direction to staff to work on revising the policy that covers in camera business.
“The corporate officer and I have been talking about trying to bring something back in two to three months, or hopefully sooner, on a revised policy,” said Brewer. “I know the corporate officer has already been working on it.”
The committee agreed to note and file Martin’s letter.
