The town council meeting in Battleford proceeded under unusual circumstances Monday night.
It was the first town meeting to be conducted by video online. The town used the Microsoft Teams platform for the meeting, which allowed most participants to be able to join in virtually.
The use of the online technology allows the town to hold meetings in compliance with social-distancing requirements under the province’s state of emergency, which limits gatherings to ten people.
“Good evening and welcome to regular council meeting --- well, irregular council meeting,” said Mayor Ames Leslie to start the meeting Monday.
The online meeting was conducted from Town Hall with only Leslie, director of finance David Gillan, councillors Gordon Yarde and Doug Laing, and executive assistant Noreen Hoffart appearing there in person. Other council members and town personnel, including chief administrative officer John Enns-Wind, appeared online by electronic means.
The previous meeting on March 16 had been conducted in person at Alex Dillabough Centre instead of Town Hall. That venue was chosen because it allowed for greater space and greater distancing between people inside.
However, further changes were required after the province brought in even tighter restrictions on gatherings. Battleford is one of many councils who have moved to an online format, with North Battleford planning to use an online format for its council meeting next week.
The new format was not without glitches. The News-Optimist was unable to join the meeting live on the Microsoft Teams link provided by the town despite repeated attempts. However, a video recording was provided by the town following the meeting.
While the online format was a new one at Town Hall on Monday, the meeting itself proceeded in a manner not much different from those held before.
The agenda was a full one, with council discussing the North Saskatchewan River Truss Bridges RFP, as well as voting on a Whistle Blower bylaw as well as resolutions on topics such as the Thunderchild-Decibel Cannabis Effluent, the Fred Light museum banner program, and on the pandemic plan update.
