With Prince Edward County Council experiencing council and committee meetings stretching long into the night, and sometimes even into the next morning, one councillor has proposed a solution.
Councillor Bill Roberts put forward a resolution during council’s first meeting of 2025, which would force council to adjourn after three hours, with an option to extend the time by one hour by majority vote once.
The motion comes after a string of long late meetings, most notably the December 11 Planning and Development Committee meeting, which have had council proceedings continue long into the night.
Councillor Roberts said that similarly long council meetings were becoming a problem.
“Long, extended meetings are counterproductive in terms of the outcome of decision making, the quality of the decision making, the health, mental health, even physical health of those involved,” said Councillor Roberts.
The motion sparked intense debate on the floor, with councillors arguing both for and against the time limit. Ultimately, council voted against the motion, leaving the procedural by-law unchanged.
