RIDEAU LAKES — Rideau Lakes council has decided it will not be writing its own report card.
A motion calling for a consolidated public report outlining council’s accomplishments during the current term was defeated following a 25-minute debate at its committee of the whole meeting on Feb. 9.
The motion, brought forward by Coun. Paula Banks, proposed directing staff to prepare a consolidated outline of work completed during the current term of council. The report was to be presented by April 27 and shared publicly through the township website and social media.
According to the motion, the report would have included capital projects undertaken during the term, including two projects scheduled to return with close-out reports, policy, process and procedural updates approved by council, initiatives brought forward by individual members of council, and the current financial picture, including surpluses and reserves as presented by the treasurer, compared to the previous term. The report was to be presented in a neutral, factual, itemized format outlining work completed by council and staff since 2023 .
Mayor Arie Hoogenboom said he would not support the motion, arguing it duplicated information already available and would place unnecessary demands on staff. He participated in the meeting by video link, while Deputy Mayor Sue Dunfield chaired.
“This strikes me as a make-work project for our staff,” Hoogenboom said. “We already have full access to our year-end records, our newsletters, our tax inserts that highlight accomplishments. Members planning to run in the next election can create their own list of accomplishments. It should not be staff doing this for us.”
Banks said the motion was intended to address what she described as a recurring public perception that council had been dysfunctional and ineffective.
“That narrative is not true,” Banks said. “We have accomplished a lot.”
Coun. Debbie Hutchings framed the discussion as one of unity rather than individual achievement.
“I picture a team of mules pulling a wagon,” Hutchings said. “We need to pull together as a team and stop being split.”
Banks later introduced a friendly amendment to remove the portion of the motion requiring councillors to submit individual initiatives for inclusion. The amendment shifted the focus of the proposed report to council’s work as a whole and was accepted without opposition.
Several councillors said they could not support the motion, raising concerns about its purpose and necessity.
Coun. Linda Carr said council decisions are collective.
“You don’t go to council to do your own thing,” Carr said. “Nothing happens unless council as a whole approves it.”
Coun. Dustin Bullock said the information sought through the motion was already publicly available and questioned whether staff time should be used to repackage it.
“This is less operational and more political in nature,” Bullock said.
Coun. Jeff Banks supported the motion, saying council had been unfairly characterized as dysfunctional despite completing numerous initiatives during the term. He also said he couldn’t find anything on the township website and often needed the clerk’s help to get information.
“You can’t be dysfunctional and get stuff done,” he said.
The motion was defeated, with Paula Banks and Jeff Banks voting in favour. Hutchings abstained. All other members voted against the motion.
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Does the council start the financial year with a list of “things” that have to be accomplished?
If so then this list should be published at the beginning of the term, then it would be a matter of yes or no as too whether it was accomplished.
If council need too embellish either the yes or no it would be at their discretion.
For those “no” items they should be carried forward until completed.