Belleville Council has given more control of the city’s finances to the chief administrative officer in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The temporary measures were approved on Friday morning and give signing authority and planning provisions to the CAO or designate, so that the business of the city can continue in the event that council or its committees are unable to act due to the virus.
As of now, all non-essential council committees have been suspended, with city council meetings being closed to the public for the time being.
Mayor Mitch Panciuk called it one of the most important steps the city has taken in dealing with the outbreak and says it is consistent with what other municipalities have been doing, in dealing with the situation.
Belleville Mayor Mitch Panciuk (File photo: Quinte News)
The Mayor also highlighted some of the actions taken by the city during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Panciuk noted that the city has extended its tax payment deadlines and is taking other measures, to help ease the burden on residents with the ongoing uncertainty of the situation.
The city has also made changes to bus service, parking and more.
Panciuk gave a heartfelt thanks to people working on the front lines during the medical crisis.
The mayor also thanked city staff for their hard work during the ongoing situation.
