Collingwood council and committee meetings are suspended until April 20.
The latest in a series of closures announced by Collingwood includes suspension of council meetings, which was announced by Mayor Brian Saunderson during a council meeting tonight.
The mayor read a prepared statement, which he posted on his personal website, during the community announcements portion of the council meeting March 16.
“The COVID-19 pandemic poses a very real threat to the health and wellbeing of our community and our residents,” read the mayor. “We take this threat very seriously and … your health and safety are our primary focus and concern, today and in the coming weeks.”
The mayor announced there would be no further council, committee, or board meetings after tonight’s meeting for an indefinite period of time. Later, he stated meetings would be suspended until April 20.
“I want our residents to know that the town will continue to provide essential services including fire, drinking water and wastewater, snow clearing, enforcement of priority bylaws, and essential customer services,” read Saunderson.
The town of Collingwood closed its recreation facilities, museum and library last week on Friday, and closed town hall to the public this morning.
“We are undertaking all of these exceptional measures to flatten the curve of the virus, slow the infection rate, and use every available means to save lives,” he read.
The mayor reminded residents Collingwood is an “exceptional community.”
“I believe that the most important metric to judge any community is the size and strength of its community spirit,” said Saunderson. “We have weathered hardship in many forms … yet in every case, and without fail, our community has prevailed and emerged stronger and more resilient than before. I know that will be our future when the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.”
The mayor urged residents to take safety precautions against the spread of the virus and to shop responsibly.
“There is no shortage of food and other essentials,” he said. “Our community will survive this crisis and we will emerge stronger and more resilient as we have in the past.”
The message and announcement about Collingwood council meetings was posted to the mayor’s personal web page.
At the end of the meeting tonight, Councillor Mariane McLeod asked if cancelling council meetings required a vote.
Clerk Sara Almas said the procedural bylaw stated non-urgent meetings could be cancelled by the mayor or clerk. She said members of council have the ability to petition for a meeting if they think one is necessary.
