Clearview council cancels prayer
Without much fuss, the Clearview Ministerial Association has been stricken from Clearview Township council’s agenda.
Leading up to a review of the municipality’s Procedure Bylaw, regularly done at the start of a new council term, Mayor Doug Measures recommended the removal of time allocated for a blessing.
Council meetings have traditionally been opened with a prayer but in 2015, after a Supreme Court ruling that having prayers from specific religious denominations was a violation of religious rights, it was opened up to everyone.
Measures told The Echo he has received a complaint about the prayer but he would not share the details. He said he did share the concern with the rest of council and invited The Echo to file a request for information (which we are in the process of preparing).
Clearview council extended the opportunity to people of all faiths, including members of the ministerial association. However, no one else has taken advantage of the opportunity and the association doesn’t always have a representative at meetings, resulting in the allocated time often going unused.
The motion to remove the prayer passed 6-3 with Robert Walker, Thom Paterson and Doug McKechnie voting against.
Paterson quipped, “Sometimes what is said during that time are the wisest words spoken all night.”
Further review to the Procedure Bylaw be discussed during an upcoming special council meeting.
Up for discussion will be the possible formation of committees (standing committees, committee of the whole, regular council, consent agendas, etc.) and changes to “ward reports” including how they relate to committee and board reports.
Council is also exploring the option of live streaming council meetings.
At the Feb. 11 meeting, the clerk was directed to investigate and to report back on the cost and implementation required to live stream council meetings including equipment options, and content ownership/retention.
The costs would come from a $75,000 budget allocation for council chamber renovations. There is a two-year plan to change the layout of the room to make it accessible. Council’s bench is currently raised, so someone with a physical disability may not be able to get to their seat.
