ATHABASCA – Tensions boiled over early in the day at Athabasca County’s council meeting Dec. 10, after a discussion over a small procedural item got heated and set the tone for the rest of the day.
For the past two years, Athabasca County has operated on a consent agenda, meaning items that no one feels the need to discuss are passed by a recommended motion provided by administration. A recent change from new Reeve Tracy Holland changed that, but half the table felt they hadn’t been properly consulted beforehand.
“This is a simple process we’ve used successfully for years to allow council more time on items that require more discussion. It allows us to pass things that are really straightforward in a procedural matter and move on, freeing up things that are in front of us,” said Coun. Brian Hall.
Council soon formed itself into its regular factions — Holland, and councillors Gary Cromwell, Kelly Chamzuk, and Rob Minns on one side, with Hall and councillors Natasha Kapitaniuk, Ashtin Anderson and Camille Wallach on the other.
Holland cited procedural issues with the consent agenda — although she wasn’t specific — in her explanation to her fellow councillors, but her decision to stop the practice was voted down in a 4-4 split vote.
Councillors had been notified of the decision in a weekend email before the meeting, but no public debate over the stoppage occurred. Holland said she had received feedback from enough councillors that she felt it was no longer needed, and scrapped the practice.
“There was never a motion to put it in play, and the procedural bylaw does not actually mention the consent agenda,” said Holland in an interview after the meeting.
“Without the consent agenda being part of our agenda package, residents don’t have an opportunity to review it and have a look at it.”
Holland said the practice also tends to gloss over some of the impactful things the county is accomplishing because the topics aren’t divisive and don’t attract additional attention.
“It looks like we’re only discussing contentious items rather than the really good things that happen in the county.”
In an interview after the meeting, Hall said he had never had a complaint about the practice in his three years as the county’s leader, and was taken aback by the sudden change, despite an email from Holland that was sent out advising councillors of some sections of the bylaw she wanted to draw attention to.
“I was surprised by the unilateral decision to stop doing it when there hadn’t been any real discussion among councillors,” said Hall.
“If council as a group makes a decision that they no longer want to do it, then that’s the way it’s supposed to be and is something that every one of us should respect.”
