There may be issues in other communities of councillors not showing up for meetings, but that cannot be said for Battleford.
Town council had a good attendance record in 2019, according to numbers cited by Mayor Ames Leslie last week.
There were 23 official council meetings during the year, said Leslie, and Councillor Judy Pruden was congratulated for having the best attendance record of anyone on council.
She attended all but one of the meetings, according to Leslie. As for the rest of council, no one missed more than three meetings the entire year.
“It’s probably the closest I’ve seen in the eight years that I have been involved in this council,” said Leslie of the attendance.
The News-Optimist has conducted a quick review of the council minutes from 20 council meetings posted on the town’s website from 2019. Those minutes stated that Pruden was in attendance for all the regular council meetings, but appeared by FaceTime at the special joint meeting of Battleford and North Battleford council held at Town Hall on June 20.
That meeting was for approval of the Sacichawasihc Relationship Agreement. Those minutes are posted at North Battleford’s city website.
All other members of council missed either two or three meetings each during the year, according to the posted minutes. Mayor Leslie was absent for two meetings: March 4 and June 3.
Of note, eight town council meetings held in 2019 saw perfect attendance by all members of council.
“With lives and sickness and flu and families, I have to commend this council for their high attendance,” said Leslie at council. “A lot of communities have to put in penalties of their council because they don’t have the attendance and (have to deduct) salaries. This council chooses to be here this often, so it’s a great stat to see.”
