City councillor wants earlier access to reports
Current system ridiculous, Janice Lukes says
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/06/2017 (2473 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
St. Norbert Coun. Janice Lukes is trying again to get timely access to reports for all members of council.
A month after losing a 10-6 vote at council on a motion to have directors available to talk to councillors 96 hours before a meeting, Lukes now wants to have reports published four business days before a meeting and has brought forward a motion that will be debated at council on Wednesday.
Coun. Jason Schreyer has seconded Lukes’ motion.
“All citizens’ elected representatives should be provided information in a timely manner and have the opportunity to ask questions so they can make informed decisions,” Lukes (South Winnipeg-St. Norbert) said. “We all end up voting on items and attempting to make policy.”
Lukes was first elected to council in 2014 and was promptly elevated to Mayor Brian Bowman’s inner circle on the executive policy committee as chair of the public works committee. Lukes said EPC members are given usually two weeks notice of all contentious reports before they go to committee and free access to civic directors.
But Bowman removed Lukes from EPC in November and she now realizes how difficult it’s been for non-EPC members to get access to important civic reports, she said.
Under the current rules, agendas and reports are released publicly 96 hours before a meeting, which includes weekends. Lukes wants it changed to four business days, arguing there’s not enough time when weekends are included and directors are even harder to reach.
“I strongly believe informed decisions should be the norm. It’s not,” Lukes said. “This is simply a ridiculous way to run the city.”
aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca