So much for fiscal or procedural controls on what Barrie councillors can spend and when.
A motion that any proposed amendments or requests from the mayor and members of council, anticipated to more than $30,000, be submitted to the city clerk and be circulated to council no later than 4:30 p.m. the Friday before any council meeting, except during budget talks or a declared state of emergency, was defeated Monday.
“I get the checks and balances,” said Coun. Sergio Morales, “but as long as the amendment is well-intentioned, and not meant to filibuster or delay or obstruct, I think it should be fair game and let the amendment pass or fail on the merit of the amendment at the meeting.”
“I understand the spirit of this,” said Coun. Jim Harris, “and as we start to try to actualize this or see how it would function, it does seem to be very complicated.”
Mayor Jeff Lehman wouldn’t support it, either.
“It can be a source of frustration to staff. And look, I have done this, too, when significant expenditure items come forward at the last minute,” he said.
“General committee always has the ability to say we’re not comfortable with this, there’s not enough information, it’s too fast, I want more (information). Sometimes we push for faster action… but it is always the collective, the 11 of use who decide,” Lehman added.
“It may continue to invite practice that at 5 to 7 (p.m. on a Monday evening), the clerk gets a request for them to prepare language for an amendment, and that’s the practice that’s very problematic. I don’t think it’s about a dollar amount. I don’t think this is a good general approach," Lehman said.
The motion councillors defeated by a 10-0 vote Monday night was not, however, the motion eventually brought forward by Coun. Mike McCann on April 12.
It was that a staff report or memorandum be required before the presentation or adoption of any amendment or motion that would require funding of more than $30,000, except during a state of emergency and except at budget time.
McCann was visible at Monday night’s virtual general committee meeting, but not by the time this motion was debated. The Ward 10 councillor did not vote on the matter.
