Yorkton Council set its meeting dates for 2020 as required by the Procedures Bylaw.
The bylaw calls for a Council Meeting Calendar for the upcoming year to be presented to Council, for approval, no later than September 30 of the preceding year.
“As with last year, we have run into a conflict with the annual SUMA convention interfering with the schedule of regular meetings if the bylaw is followed and the first meeting is held on the second Monday of the year,” explained Jessica Matsalla – Director of Legislation and Procedures (City Clerk) with the City at the regular meeting of Yorkton Council Monday.
Councillor Ken Chyz would move an amendment to move meetings in February and August to the 10th of both months (Mondays) to avoid Tuesday meetings after a long weekend. It was unanimously supported.
Matsalla also noted that 2020 is a municipal election year, with the vote being taken Nov. 9.
“The Inaugural Meeting of Council shall be held within the first week of an election, therefore, Administration proposes that the date of the Inaugural Meeting of Council 2020-2024 be held on Friday, November 13, 2020,” she said.
“As a point of reference, in 2016, the Election was held on Wednesday, October 26, and the Inaugural Meeting was held Tuesday, November 1, 2016. The first regular meeting after the election must be held the second Monday after the date of the election, and the three week schedule would commence thereafter.”
A note that for the Municipal Election, the candidate nomination period is 10 business days prior to Nomination Day, which shall occur the fifth Wednesday before Election Day. This will result in two regular Council Meetings being conducted during the nomination period, said Matsalla.
