The city of Saint John will be posting councillor attendance records on its website.
The motion was approved on Monday and was brought forward by Councillor Paula Radwan.
“When I was running in the election, I remember citizens saying to me, “Well, you know, you’re only going to have two meetings a month,’ and I thought, wow, they have no idea what’s going on, so, that’s how all this came together.”
Before the vote, several councillors expressed their concerns.
Councillor Gerry Lowe mentioned the proposed attendance sheet lacks information and does not address scheduling conflicts.
“For example, I had a Planning and Advisory Committee meeting, with the market committee [on the same night], I can only go to one, I can’t go to both, so, do I get marked down that I didn’t go to the other one? That’s not fair.”
An example of the proposed attendance chart. (image from the City of Saint John)
Councillor Greg Stewart brought up that the motion could lead to harassment towards councillors.
“If someone gets a few red marks on that meeting attendance sheet, people on social media aren’t going to recognize, or care why a councillor didn’t make a meeting, all they’re going to score you on is, ‘oh, they have four red marks,’ that’s what they’re going to see, and will signal in on that, and there’s going to be some social media bullying done because of it.”
Stewart added the proposed attendance charts has to have more context.
“It can’t just be simple coloured boxes because it’s going to create problems.”
Despite concerns, council approved the motion 6-2.
