Council meetings to remain virtual

After hearing options for the possible resumption of in-person meetings, Niagara-on-the-Lake councillors decided to continue holding virtual council meetings for a while longer.

Parks and recreation manager Kevin Turcotte outlined three options at Monday’s council meeting: to continue meeting virtually, to meet in-person, although there would be some limits to capacity; or to adopt a hybrid model.

But presented with issues such as the cost of adapting the council chamber to allow physical distancing, and the fact that none of the options could include the presence of the public, the status quo seemed the obvious choice, with all councillors agreeing.

Coun. Norm Arsenault summed up what the others were saying.

“As much as I’d like to see you guys,” he said, “I don’t see the benefits of this (in-person meeting model). This is working reasonably well, and I don’t see a lot of advantages to other options, with little opportunity for the public to come in here.”

The town hall is open to the public by appointment only.