The Community Charter sets out the need of every municipality to have a Procedure Bylaw, a document which, among other aspects, defines terms, rules, and responsibilities.

It guides council members in ways that will help them avoid improper conduct, such as staying on topic and not causing a disturbance, or unduly delaying the business of the meeting.

The bylaw states that council members 鈥渕ust conduct themselves at all times with behaviour respectful of their duties as members of council and not use offensive or derogatory words or unparliamentary language in a meeting or against the council or against any member of staff.鈥�

Regular observers of Township council meetings will have noticed a disintegration of civility when feelings run high, and now council, at its last meeting before the summer break, has amended the bylaw to spell out decorum 鈥� for those in the public gallery.

One political watchdog, a regular at Township council meetings, remarked that at a recent public hearing, a couple of the delegates used the council chambers 鈥渁s their own personal living room,鈥� walking around freely during the presentations and disregarding Mayor Rick Green鈥檚 requests to end their lengthy speeches.

After he attended a meeting of White Rock council, Councillor Charlie Fox suggested that the Township follow the example of that seaside town and set a five-minute limit on speakers鈥� time, and ban cheering, heckling and applause.

鈥淎re you saying that they can鈥檛 clap?鈥� asked Councillor Kim Richter.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 sanitizing things. This is the public鈥檚 place of government and they need to have the right to be able to show their support,鈥� she said.

Outbursts from the gallery are not unusual, and council members interrupting each other are also becoming more frequent.

However, at a recent public hearing into the Fort 91原创 IGA鈥檚 rebuilding plan, there was applause from the gallery.

The amendment makes that taboo.

The amendment reads: 鈥淒ecorum must be maintained at all times, this includes refraining from applause, booing or heckling.鈥�

Recalling the applause for the IGA plan, Green said he wasn鈥檛 sure how the chairman (typically the mayor) of a meeting can control that.

鈥淚t鈥檚 out of my hands to do that,鈥� he said.

鈥淲e are not a court of law,鈥� Richter responded to comments from other councillors.

鈥淭his is place for people and people have the right to express themselves.鈥�

Fox noted that people at the public hearing clapped in appreciation, but limits should be placed on how long they can talk.

Others agreed with Richter.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 really think we need this,鈥� said Councillor Steve Ferguson.

The amendment passed with Richter, Ferguson and Green voting against it.