Cobourg Mayor threatened with ejection from county council

Brighton Mayor Bryan Ostrander

By Cecilia Nasmith, Northumberland 89.7 FM News

Cobourg

By not sending an alternate and electing to attend virtually, Mayor Lucas Cleveland was left without the right to take part

Cobourg Mayor Lucas Cleveland was threatened with ejection from the April meeting of Northumberland County council, though that proved not to be necessary.

Away on a conference, Cleveland sat in on the meeting Wednesday morning through Zoom, which is not permitted under procedural bylaws except under extreme conditions.

In such cases, a vote has to be taken to allow the member's attendance by Zoom. When Warden Brian Ostrander asked for a mover for this purpose, there was none – effectively disallowing Cleveland's virtual attendance.

Cleveland remained on the screen and early into the meeting – following Ostrander's effusive thanks to so many who responded to the emergencies wrought by the severe ice storm that hit the area recently – raised his hand for permission to speak. Ostrander did not respond to the cue and, eventually, Cleveland posted the icon of the yellow virtual raised hand. In both cases, the meeting proceeded without his being recognized.

Near the end of the public portion of the meeting, just before Ostrander began his report from the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus, Cleveland went audible and broke into the meeting asking to speak.

“You may not. You are not part of this meeting, Councillor Cleveland,” the warden said.

Cleveland continued to speak, asking for a “motion on a point of privilege” but was muted thereafter.

Ostrander was not more than a few sentences into his report before Cleveland spoke again.

“I again raise a point of personal privilege – I have the right to do so and...” was all that was said before he was muted again.

“If he continues to do that, we will eject him from the meeting,” Ostrander declared. And though Cleveland remained virtually present and the yellow virtual hand remained upright, nothing more was heard from him.

Asked about the situation later, Ostrander pointed out that in the event a mayor cannot attend, he or she can ensure that municipality is represented by sending an alternate – as Port Hope did, dispatching Councillor Todd Attridge for that purpose.