Join the Ask the Clerks Information Session and Provide Comments on the Proposed Changes

Cobourg, ON (October 20, 2023) – The Town of Cobourg would like to invite members of the community to submit their feedback and questions regarding the Governance Review.

In April 2023, the Town of Cobourg initiated a review of its governance by-laws and policies. These by-laws dictate such things as the structure of Council Meetings, how decisions are made, steps taken to ensure meetings are transparent and open to the public and how citizens can communicate with Council on agenda items or issues in our community.

The goal of the governance review and any proposed amendments is to update the current Procedural By-law and other governance related policies and by-laws to streamline processes and improve the efficiency of the business of Town Council and its Committees and Boards.

What has been proposed:
In 2021, Council received an Organizational Review conducted by KPMG which was designed to provide a comprehensive review on the Town’s corporate structure, service delivery and staff resourcing. The final report had several recommendations that were approved by Council for implementation through a Staff report from the Chief Administrative Officer. One of those recommendations contained within the report was that the Town may want to re-evaluate the current use of the Council Coordinator role for governance in favor of a standing committee structure. KPMG noted that the use of a Council Coordinator structure does not appear to reflect best/common practice for Ontario municipalities.

Previous Community Engagement: 
As an initial step, Council sought community input regarding what is currently working well and where improvements could be made, particularly on transparency, accountability and how residents are able to participate in municipal decision making. A survey was launched on EngageCobourg.ca and ran from April 25 to May 29, 2023. 

The Town’s Municipal Clerk also hosted an Open House on May 17 to speak with members of the public and address any questions or concerns residents had. A Public Meeting was held on June 19, 2023 where Council reviewed comments submitted through the Community Engagement process, including those received at the Open House. 

Comments and recommendations received through previous community engagement opportunities were used to inform and staff's final report to Council on Monday, October 16, 2023.

Next Steps:
Council has directed staff to seek feedback from members of the community on the proposed governance review structure and draft Procedural By-law. 

Feedback will be reported back to Council for the November 6, 2023 Committee of the Whole meeting.

Visit the Project Page on EngageCobourg.ca  
Residents are invited to visit the Governance Review project page on EngageCobourg.ca to review the background information and learn more about the Governance Review and recommended changes.A survey is available to submit questions or comments on the proposed changes.

Ask the Clerks and Provide Comments on the Proposed Changes:
The Town of Cobourg's Municipal Clerk and Deputy Clerk, will be hosting two information sessions on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 . During these sessions, the Clerks will answer questions about the governance review as well as receive resident comments on the proposed changes.

Join one of the following Zoom meetings:

• Wednesday, November 1 at 1pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81369691825 
• Wednesday, November 1 at 6pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83662398293

Register on Engage Cobourg Today!
Residents of the Town of Cobourg are encouraged to create a profile online and participate in current public engagement projects. To register on Engage Cobourg, an online public engagement platform designed to gather feedback and comments from residents, visit EngageCobourg.ca and click the Register Today! button. For questions or help registering please email communications@cobourg.ca.