Council Meetings

Council meetings are usually held on Tuesdays, begin at 6:00PM and are open to the public. Meetings take place in Council Chambers at the Town of Vermilion administration building (5021 49 Avenue). Meetings vary in length depending on the agenda, but average between two and three hours.

If public hearings are scheduled, the start time will be clearly indicated within the agenda package and include a presentation, as well as opportunities for anyone who supports or opposes the issue to speak. Public hearings are held to introduce a new bylaw or change of land use. After the public hearing(s), the regular Council meeting will resume.

Council decisions are passed with a majority vote in favor. If there is a tied vote, the resolution or the bylaw is defeated. All Councilor's present at a council meeting shall vote on every motion unless they have identified a conflict of interest, which must be declared at the beginning of each meeting. Once the item of conflict arises, it is common practice for the Councilor(s) to leave the Council Chambers.

Types of Meetings

Regular Meetings

Routinely held, these meetings allow Mayor and Council to vote on items such as bylaws, capital projects and expenditures, budget, among other items. Council approves the Regular Council meeting schedule before the next calendar year.

Special Meetings

A special council meeting is called with shorter notice and is not on the yearly meeting schedule. These meetings do not occur often and can only be held for the specific business in which the meeting was required. These meetings are held for time-sensitive items that cannot wait until the following regular Council meeting.

In Camera Sessions

An in camera session is the portion of a Council Meeting that is for the Council to discuss sensitive items such as those within the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Council cannot make any decisions during an in camera session. To pass any motions or resolutions, Council must close the in camera session and return to an open session.

Anyone who is not a member of Council or the executive Leadership Team is required to leave Council Chambers during an in camera session, and the livestream/recordings are ended. This would include other members of Administration and members of the public and media. There are no recorded minutes or notes taken during an in camera session.

Attending Meetings

All meetings are open to public, and no person shall be excluded except improper conduct. The only exception to limit access is when Council closes all or part of the meeting to the public ( in camera sessions) to discuss confidential items. Attending Council meetings can be an excellent way to understand how Council makes decisions. While the doors the Council Chambers are never locked during a meeting, attendees are encouraged to arrive early as not to disrupt the meeting. Public seating is located just inside the doors of Council Chambers.

If you are unable to attend, you can click here, watch from live from your desktop or mobile device at.

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