Committees and Boards

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Advisory Committees and Local Boards

Are you a Cobourg resident or taxpayer interested in providing citizen input into the strategic direction setting of the municipality? If so, you should consider joining a Committee or Board with the Town of Cobourg!

A list of all Advisory Committees and Local Boards can be found below.

Current Vacancies

The Town of Cobourg is currently seeking expressions of interest for:

Cobourg Public Library Board
Accessibility Advisory Committee
Downtown Coalition Advisory Committee
Environmental Active Transportation Advisory Committee
Cobourg Police Services Board (Public Appointee). In order to be considered for this vacancy, please complete the application process through the Public Appointments Secretariat website, as the appointment is considered and made by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Application Process

Eligibility

To be eligible to serve on an Advisory Committee or Local Board:

You must reside in the municipality, or be an owner/tenant of land (or spouse of same) for the duration of your term
At minimum, you must be 18 years of age, unless otherwise specified in the Committee or Board’s Terms of Reference
You are not employed by the Town of Cobourg

In addition to the general eligibility requirements listed above, specific skills and/or experiences required for membership on each Advisory Committee or Local Board shall be established by way of Terms of Reference approved by Council. Bylaw 008-2016 currently establishes the Town of Cobourg Composition and Terms of Reference for Advisory Committees, Local Boards and Internal Working Groups.

How to Apply

To apply to become a member of an Advisory Committee or Local Board:

Complete the Advisory Committee and Local Board Application Form.
Submit the completed Application form in person or by mail to 55 King Street West, Cobourg ON K9A 2M2, Attn. Legislative Services Department, by e-mail at rbonneau@cobourg.ca, or by fax at 905-372-7558.

If you are unable to complete the application form for reason of disability, accessible and alternate formats are available at the request of the Municipal Clerk’s Office and special provision by the Municipal Clerk may be made as a result for those individuals requesting an alternative format when submitting an application.

Selection Process

All appointments are made by Council. Copies of all applications will be made available to Council for consideration. Council will appoint qualified applicants to vacancies based on the information submitted in and attached to the application form. Appointments to Advisory Committees or Local Boards may take up to eight (8) weeks after the deadline date to be fully processed and filled. After appointments are finalized by Council resolution, the Municipal Clerk will notify all applicants, informing them of the Council’s decision.

Term of Appointments

Unless otherwise legislated, the term of appointment to an Advisory Committee, Quasi-Judicial Committee or Local Board, by way of Council resolution, shall be a four (4) year term which coincides with the existing term of Council who appointed them.

The maximum length of service to an Advisory Committee or Local Board shall be no longer than six (6) consecutive years on a singular Committee or Board. Applicants may reapply to a Committee or Board in which they have served six (6) consecutive years only after an absence of one (1) year. During this time, applicants are still eligible to apply to an alternative Town of Cobourg Committee or Board.

In order to maintain long-standing, contributing members, an Advisory Committee member may ask Council for an exemption to the one (1) year mandated absence.

Town of Cobourg Advisory Committees, Local Boards and Ad Hoc Committees

A list of all Advisory Committees and Local Boards can be found below, including a link to their webpages that provide meeting schedules, agendas and minutes and Terms of Reference. Occasionally, the Municipal Council of Cobourg will establish Ad Hoc Committees that are prescribed to a start and finish date to consider and report on a specific subject, project or undertaking. A list of current Ad Hoc Committees can be found below.

Advisory Committees

Accessibility Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Accessibility Advisory Committee is to raise the profile of accessibility issues and promote initiatives that support a universally accessible community for the Town of Cobourg.

For more information, visit the Accessibility Advisory Committee page.

Committee of Adjustment

The Committee of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial decision-making body that considers applications for Consent (to sever land), applications for minor variances from the Zoning By-law, and any other variances specified under the Planning Act R.S.O 1990. The committee will also act in the capacity of a Property Standards Committee.

For more information, visit the Committee of Adjustment page.

Downtown Coalition Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Downtown Coalition Advisory Committee is to oversee and ensure the timely execution of the Town’s Downtown Vitalization Action Plan.

For more information, visit the Downtown Coalition Committee page.

Economic Development Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Economic Development Advisory Committee is to provide advice and recommendations to Cobourg Municipal Council and the Economic Development Officer on matters relating to the goal of promoting the Town of Cobourg as an economic destination for industry manufacturing, tourism and commerce opportunities.

For more information, visit the Economic Development Advisory Committee page.

Environmental Active Transportation Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Environmental Active Transportation Advisory Committee is to provide advice and recommendations to Cobourg Municipal Council relating to environmental and active transportation including cycling, transit, pedestrian and recreational transportation.

For more information, visit the Environmental Active Transportation Advisory Committee page.

Cobourg Heritage Committee

The purpose of the Cobourg Heritage Committee is to advise, assist and make recommendations to Council on matters relating to the conservation of cultural heritage resources.

For more information, visit the Cobourg Heritage Committee page.

Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee is to educate, advice and make recommendations to Cobourg Municipal Council on matters related to parks, open spaces, waterfront, recreational facilities and programs, to reflect the needs of the community and to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee page.

Planning and Sustainability Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Planning and Sustainability Advisory Committee is to advise the Cobourg Municipal Council on matters relating to the Corporation’s land use planning and sustainability programs.

For more information, visit the Planning and Sustainability Advisory Committee page.

Local Boards

Cobourg Public Library Board

Public Libraries Act R.S.O. 1990, Chapter P.44 states that the Council of a municipality may, through the provision of a bylaw, establish a public library under the management and control of a local board (Cobourg Public Library Board).

The purpose of the Cobourg Public Library Board is to provide a range of programs and services to the residents of Cobourg and to support lifelong learning endeavors.

For more information, visit the Cobourg Public Library page.

Cobourg Police Services Board

The Ontario Police Services Act R.S.O. 1990, Chapter P.15 provides the responsibilities of Police Services Boards respecting oversight, labour relations and quasi-judicial functions.

The purpose of the Cobourg Police Services Board is to ensure the delivery of adequate and effective policing by appointing members to the Service who work with the Chief in identifying objectives and priorities.

For more information, visit the Cobourg Police Service Board page or the Cobourg Police Service website.

Ad Hoc Committees

Poet Laureate Ad Hoc Committee

The Poet Laureate Ad Hoc Committee consist of five (5) members which include the Mayor, a Council representative, the CEO of the Cobourg Public Library, the Director of the Art Gallery of Northumberland and one (1) Poet Laureate appointed by the Cobourg Municipal Council.

Council appoints a Poet Laureate as a means by which the importance of literature, language and all Arts and Culture is encouraged and promoted within the Town of Cobourg. The position of a Poet Laureate serves to complement the development and promotion of Cobourg as a cultural community.

The term for the Poet Laureate Ad Hoc Committee will run from October 2018 - December 2018

For more information, visit the Poet Laureate Ad Hoc Committee Term of Reference.

Authority

The Town of Cobourg Advisory Committee and Local Board meetings are governed by:

Advisory Committees and Local Boards Terms of Reference.
The Town of Cobourg Advisory Committee and Local Board Policy and Procedures
The Town of Cobourg By-law No. 003-2016. The by-law establishes the rules of order and procedures to govern the proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Town of Cobourg.
Robert's Rules of Order

E-Updates

You can sign up to receive an email notice when a committee or board's agenda and minutes have been published.

Town Council appoints a Poet Laureate as a means by which the importance of literature, language and all Arts and Culture is encouraged and promoted within the Town of Cobourg. The position of a Poet Laureate serves to complement the development and promotion of Cobourg as a cultural community.