Saint John pilot program to explore committee-based governance
Saint John has been given the go ahead by council to start a pilot program aimed at restructuring the governance system, including the formation of two committees looking at finance and growth.
The city does not currently have a wide-ranging system of committees, but individualized agencies, boards, and commissions.
Now these various groups that fall under the new committees will report directly to the committee instead of the councillor sitting on an agency, board or commission reporting to council.
Mayor Don Darling said he is a big believer in the committee form of governance and is excited to see the pilot program given permission to proceed.
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The city has more than 30 different agencies, boards and commissions, which each have a single councillor sitting on them.
Councillors are also paid for their work on these boards in addition to their regular wages, Darling would like this to stop.
"It's not like there's big pay on these boards. It's that perception of going to a meeting as a councillor, as a city staff person even, and being paid to go to that meeting," said Darling.
The committees will have five councillors each and will start in September. They will be re-evaluated in February 2017.
"[We'll evaluate] what's going well, and perhaps what's not working so well, and we'll reevaluate where we are then," said Darling.
One criticism that the committee structure has raised is that it it adds another layer of red tape to the system. But Darling said this is not the intention.
"This is all about enhancing accountability. I'm a red tape hater," he said.
"So, I'm going to be serving on both of these committees, and anywhere that we've identified red tape or issues we'll be removing them."
Other cities in the province already govern with a committee system. Darling said he would like to see this system replicated, but that the city should move slowly.
"We think the right way is to do two committees, see how we're doing, and if folks are positive about it we'll talk about if we'll add two more , or do we go all the way to six," said Darling.
