Cobourg, ON (November 7, 2023) – The Town of Cobourg Legislative Services Division would like to inform all residents that there will be a Special Council Meeting on Monday, November 20, 2023, for Council to review and deliberate the Town of Cobourg 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.

Community Engagement Initiatives:
As an initial step, Council sought community input regarding what is currently working well and where improvements could be made regarding the current governance structure. A survey was launched on EngageCobourg.ca and ran from April 25 to May 29, 2023.

The Town’s Municipal Clerk hosted an Open House on May 17, 2023, 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 a staff report to Council on Monday, October 16, 2023. Following the receipt of the staff report in October, Council directed staff to seek feedback from members of the public on the proposed governance review structure and draft procedural by-law.

The Town of Cobourg launched a phase two community engagement project for the Governance Review, including a public forum on October 20, 2023. The Town of Cobourg’s Municipal Clerk and Deputy Clerk held two information sessions, one at 1:00 p.m. and the second at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. During these sessions, the Clerks answered questions about the governance review received through the public forum on EngageCobourg.ca as well as received resident comments on the proposed changes.

Next Steps:
Mayor Cleveland has called a Special Council Meeting on Monday, November 20, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. for Council to review and deliberate on the recommended changes to Council’s governance structure and proposed procedural by-law.

The Special Council Meeting will be held in Council Chambers, third floor of Victoria Hall, 55 King Street West. Members of the public are invited to attend the meeting in person or watch from home via the Town of Cobourg eScribe website. The meeting will also be recorded and can be watched at a later date.

-30-