So what exactly goes on in those “in camera” meetings at Courtenay council?
A new policy will require council to routinely release in camera resolutions, once the requirement for confidentiality has passed.
But not everyone on council is happy about this move, originally put forward by Mayor Larry Jangula.
The sticking point is releasing the voting records of councillors, without the accompanying discussion of why they voted a certain way.
There isn’t a council meeting that goes by without council going into a non-public session to deal with personnel, legal, real estate and other matters sanctioned by the Community Charter.
The Charter had been cited by Jangula in proposing his motion to have staff report on the feasibility of releasing more information.
But there is nothing in the Community Charter to require councils to “rise and report” from in camera meetings, according to John Ward, Director of Legislative Services/Deputy CAO.
However, it is recommended in the Open Meetings Best Practices Guide from the BC Ombudsperson.
Counc. Bob Wells was worried that the policy might be “retroactive” but was assured it wouldn’t be.
Counc. Doug Hillian expressed concern that the policy of releasing voting records could fetter discussions at in camera meetings.
“It’s about transparency, and what the public would like to see us do,” said Mayor Jangula. “They want to know who voted … it’s all part of the transparency, and the public have the right to know it.”
“Are we as a council going to be transparent … or continue to duck issues.”
Counc. David Frisch said the concern he had was “you’ll see the resolution and voting, but none of the discussion. The public’s going to have to draw their own conclusion … that’s an issue for me.”
He said maybe council should be recording in camera meetings and releasing “the whole thing”.
CAO David Allen cautioned council that there are “some things that will never become public” despite what council wants.
“That’s the first lens … that won’t change,” he said. “There are things like solicitor-client privilege. Where the slippery slope is here, you have to be careful on what you can and cannot say. It’s not carte blanche.”
Counc. Doug Hillian said he didn’t see the need for an additional policy, especially since it didn’t have the opportunity built in for discussion.
“Let’s take an example of a recent issue first discussed in camera, hospital parking. It was originally discussed in camera because of legal issues. Supposing I had voted against it in camera, it hadn’t been risen and reported on, but simply released six months later. I don’t see where the opportunity is for me to speak to my position. That’s just one example,” he said.
“Most of the important issues that we deal with … if there’s an in camera element to them, they eventually come to the table,” Hillian said.
Counc. Frisch echoed Hillian’s comments and said “all the big issues … do come forward. I don’t see the need for this either … it complicates things.”
“Making more work is what it’s doing,” he added.
But Mayor Jangula said “either we look at being more open and transparent, or we’re not. If it is important, the public should know how we voted on it.”
The policy proposes releasing in camera meeting resolutions on a semi-annual basis after they’ve been reviewed by the CAO.
The policy narrowly passed 4-3, with councillors Frisch, Hillian and Rebecca Lennox voting against.