Minutes of a special meeting of council revealed proposed changes to the Village of Burns Lake council procedures bylaw, following a review.
During the hour long meeting, several changes to council procedures were discussed, including a request by Coun. John Illes that the village's financial statement reports be provided on the agenda on a quarterly basis.
He also requested that Rick Martin, village director of public works provide a regular update on water, sewer and building permits.
Councillor Susan Schienbein and Coun. Illes both requested that the public comment section that is offered to local residents during council's regular meetings, be moved to the end of each council meeting.
Currently members of the public are offered two minutes to address council on any topic at the beginning of regular meetings.
Councillor Illes said to Lakes District News, "The reason for me was so that the public was able to comment on the meeting and motions that were made during the meeting. I was hoping this would involve and generate more public engagement."
Council also discussed adding of a second opportunity for the public to comment, calling it, 'community issues and concerns' with a two minute limit per topic and a question and answer period at the end of the meeting, that councillors have suggested to be up to five minutes in length.
It was also suggested that delegations have 10 minutes to present to council, rather than the current 20 minutes, however council will be able to ask questions following the delegates presentation.
Councillors also suggested that a report by chief administrative officer Sheryl Worthing be provided at regular council meetings, as well as the mayors report and reports by individual councillors. Currently Mayor Luke Strimbold gives his 'mayors report' at the beginning of each meeting, while councillors give their reports about what they have been doing since the previous meeting, near the end of the council meeting.
Worthing said to Lakes District News, "Staff will be bringing back the suggested changes in draft format to council at a future council meeting. Once the draft has been approved, an amendment bylaw will be produced and will go through the regular bylaw process of a first, second and third reading, and then adoption. I expect it will be fall when this bylaw is adopted."