SUNDRE — Mayor Terry Leslie, who said he prefers meeting with people face-to-face, hopes regular, in-person council meetings can resume sooner rather than later.
“It’s certainly been an adjustment,” he said about the new routine of conducting meetings by teleconference.
“It’s caused us to do lots more homework behind the scenes to make sure that we’re prepared to discuss some of the issues coming forward.”
Fortunately, this late in its term, council is in a position where a four-year budget, as well as a five- and 10-year capital plan, is already in place.
While some annual adjustments are typically tended to, he said there isn’t nearly as much work involved as there was during the first two years of council’s term.
“It’s almost business as usual," he said.
Despite some drawbacks, Leslie said he doesn’t mind meeting remotely.
“Certainly, you miss the interaction,” he said. “I like to be where people are. I think we’re social creatures by nature, and we all like the ability to be able to read the non-verbal cues, the body language.”
But perhaps the biggest pro to teleconference meetings is providing an option for people to listen in without having to physically attend.
“We’ve seen some interest from the public that I’m quite pleased to see,” he said. "They can actually call in from the comfort of their own homes.”
Moving forward, council wants to ensure people will have the option to join meetings either electronically or in person. After all, he said, society as a whole largely seems to be trending towards a greater emphasis on digital communications, whether through social media, text, or email, a council wants to find a balance that accommodates them all.
Although the mayor hopes to resume in-person council meetings as soon as possible, he said the process cannot be rushed out of respect for the health and safety protocols outlined by health professionals.
Additionally, plans to upgrade council chambers remain underway.
“We think that rather than make temporary changes, we should make permanent changes in our council chambers so that the safety of the public and staff and council is respected,” he said.
Furthermore, a big catch that has council somewhat stumped, is how to address the issue of capacity should a large turnout attend once in-person meetings resume.
“If we have a capacity in council chambers, who do we not let in? From a public perspective, if you want to attend a council meeting, everybody should be able to go,” he said.
So accommodating everyone who is interested in joining a council meeting will likely mean providing a blend of remote participation alongside physically distanced seating.
As a sitting member of the Red Deer River Municipal Users Group, the mayor said many representatives throughout the Central Zone have been joining meetings by videoconference even when they have the option to attend in person — not just for the convenience, but rather for the cost savings to their municipalities in terms of mileage, meals and accommodation.
“We’re all checking our preconceived ideas and habits, and we are trying to look at being more effective and particularly, more efficient,” he said.
While the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel remains elusive and potentially distant, the mayor said during a ministerial association meeting he discussed with local leaders of the spiritual and religious community reasons to be grateful in the days following Thanksgiving.
“We’re fortunate to live where we do," he said. "Our backyard is one of the most spectacular on the planet. Where else can you find the peace and tranquility and calm that you can find here?”
