Appearing as a Delegation

If you would like to present to Council please email clerk@powassan.net or fill out this form: Delegation to Council.

How do I bring forward any issues and concerns to Committee and Council?

Contact the municipal office and speak to the appropriate department to determine if your concerns can be addressed within the Department's ongoing service plan.

If you are unable to resolve your issue or concern with staff, contact your Councillor and discuss your concerns directly with him or her. You may find that your Councillor may already be working to resolve the matter or can provide support and assistance.

Your next step may require an appearance before one of the Committees. Members of the public who wish to make presentations on their own behalf or on behalf of companies and organizations are called delegations. At the Committee you will have an opportunity to present your concerns along with your action for the Committee's consideration. Contact the Municipal Clerk's office (705-724-2813) and they will help you to determine which Committee meeting you will need to attend.

If your issue is a matter currently on the agenda for a Committee, you can register as a delegation up to 12:00 PM (noon) on the day of the actual committee meeting.

However, if your item is not directly related to an item listed in the current agenda for the Committee, you will need to provide the Clerk's office with a letter detailing your concerns and the actions you would like the Committee to approve. The Clerk's staff will place that item on the next appropriate committee agenda and inform you of the date, time and location of the meeting.

How should I prepare in order to appear before Committee or Council?

When you appear before a Committee or Council, you have up to 15 minutes to present your position. Here are some helpful tips:

• Prepare yourself in advance of the presentation by making notes or writing out the text of your presentation. In addition, it helps the Committee/Council when they have the details or your concern in writing. Your written material presented at the meeting may also become part of the official public record. If you make the written presentation available to the Clerk's Office, they may copy and distribute the material in advance of the meeting.
• If you are appearing on behalf of a larger group such as a neighborhood group, let the Clerk know that you will be speaking on behalf of the group as their spokesperson. Larger groups are encouraged to select a spokesperson to make their presentation.
• The delegation portion of the agenda is dealt with at the beginning of the meeting. The Committee Chair (or Mayor at Council) will call out your name and identify the subject matter which you will be addressing. Following questions, Council/Committee will not entertain any more comments from the delegation.
• Once all delegations have been heard, the Chair/Mayor will place the item(s) of business before the Committee/Council for consideration. Committee members/Councilors will have the opportunity to discuss and/or debate the matter and formulate a recommendation for approval.
• In the event you wish to appear before Council as a delegation, you should be prepared to present new information only. Some Council members are members of the Standing Committees. They will have heard the delegation at Committee and will be interested in hearing only new information. If your issue is a matter currently on the Council agenda, you may register as a delegation up to 12:00 PM (noon) on the Thursday prior to the Council meeting.