It seems Huntsville Council may be experiencing growing pains where it currently conducts its business.
At its Aug. 22, 2016 meeting, council appointed a working group to investigate the viability of moving the council chamber to another location or the possibility of expanding its current quarters. The working group is made up of three staff members and three councillors. Its mandate will be not only to determine a location for the chamber but to determine its current and future needs as well as accessibility requirements.
Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano, who will form part of the working group, said the issue was brought forward by staff, who felt there were several challenges with the existing chamber. Those challenges include an outdated audio system as well as capacity, she explained.
People are standing and there’s really not enough room for the press anymore or staff – so really there’s just space constrictions. And then there’s most definitely the accessibility issue. Huntsville Deputy-Mayor Karin Terziano
One of the options that could be entertained by the group is moving the chamber to space currently occupied on the building’s main floor by Club 55. But Terziano noted that in itself would be a very controversial solution and would most definitely require further exploration. She said another option could be to move some or all of the offices currently occupied by staff off the third floor, which would therefore free up space to expand the existing council chamber. She said yet another option could be to move the chamber to the Canada Summit Centre.
“We could do lots and lots of things but they’re all just pie in the sky ideas right now,” she said.
Terziano noted that the group will simply start by exploring possible options and their associated costs but there’s no timeline set for making a change – if one is even made.
“I think we’re just going to go over what the square footage of council is and how much more space we think we would need before we even start saying ‘OK where could we get more space.’”
The group is scheduled to meet for the first time Sept. 8, 2016.
Councillors Jason Fitzgerald and Jonathan Wiebe as well as municipal staff members Crystal Best-Sararas, Tanya Calleja and Brian Crozier will form part of the working group.
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Rob Millman says
The least expensive solution would be to move Council sessions to the meeting room at Robinsons’ Independent Grocers. The room is 100% accessible by elevator; although I cannot remember whether the washroom is accessible. I believe that the capacity is approximately 42, but that number would be reduced if the present horseshoe layout is retained. A small kitchenette is included.
Moving to the Club 55 area is, logically at least, a non-starter; as the number of individuals requiring an accessible venue exceeds those in Council. Also, their shuffleboard would not be transferrable, nor could they hold their card parties in the smaller space.
Partners’ Hall is fine space-wise, but would represent far too many conflicts with the Theatre (unless no bookings were made on Council nights).
Bill Beatty says
In most cases when there is a controversial subject or one that peaks a great deal of interest, staff and council are aware that space will be at a premium and can schedule the meetings for the theatre where often there are no activities midweek or in the winter. Special Council meetings can be scheduled for the theatre when it is known turnouts will be large. A good indicator is the number of delegations who wish to address council.Expansion would be a huge cost at a time when fiscal restraint should be the goal. Many councillors were quick to point out their concerns about how dollars are being spent. Let’s translate that into a NO when it comes to more spending on bigger Chambers !