Public attendance permitted in Council Chambers

Merritt City Council has voted unanimously to once again allow a limited number of spectators into the council chambers during meetings.

“On November 24th, 2020, with rising case loads and unpredictable public attendance, staff recommended that Council use their authority under Ministerial Order M192 to require public attendance at meetings to take place via the City’s internet broadcasts of meetings, and to prohibit their in-person attendance at City Hall, pending developments in early 2021,” said Director of Corporate Services Greg Lowis.

“By the time this resolution expired on January 13th 2021, BC Public Health Orders prohibited in-person public attendance at meetings,” added Lowis.

On June 15, that order was altered to allow attendance at public meetings, within a stated room capacity.

“Staff will revert to the 2020 safety plan, with a limit of 20 people in the chamber spaced apart, and enforcing the Public Health Order’s requirements,” said Lowis.

“I for one am sure glad to see us going back to being able to talk to the public one-on-one again. But there will still be challenges,” said Mayor Linda Brown.