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At the City of Elliot Lake, we encourage community engagement with local politics and invite you to attend an upcoming Council or Committee meeting. If you would like to speak before Council or Committee, you will need to submit a delegation or presentation request. Your group or organization may also consider a proclamation request.
Request to Appear Before Council or Committee
You may also print and submit it by email to the Clerk's Department. If you are using materials in your presentation, such as PowerPoint slides or handouts, you must submit the materials in advance of the meeting. Please review the guidelines within the Procedure By-law before requesting to appear before Council. Please note, if you are unable to attend the meeting in person or electronically, you can prepare a written submission to be read aloud by the Mayor or Chair and email the Clerk's Department, send by mail, or drop off at City Hall as per the timelines and details outlined below.
There are three (3) ways you can address Council or a Committee of Council:
| Public Presentation |
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Any person wishing to make a Presentation to Council or a Committee shall submit a request to the Clerk by 4:00 PM three (3) business days before the meeting at which the person desires to be heard, stating the nature of the business to be discussed. A presentation addresses a new issue or an issue that may be of general interest or concern to a committee or the general public.
The maximum time allocation for a presentation is 10 minutes and the maximum number of presentations per meeting is three, with order and acceptance determined on a first received basis. The maximum number of presenters to address Council per presentation is three (including the spokesperson).
Example:
Meeting date: January 8
Agenda Publishing Date: January 4
Presentation Request Deadline (with PowerPoint or Speaking Notes): January 3 by 4 p.m.
| Presentation Tips |
- Wait until the Chair announces your presentation before going to the podium.
- Remember to introduce yourself, as well as anyone who may be accompanying you to the podium (up to three people). State the reason for your presentation.
- The Chair of the meeting is responsible for conducting the meeting and ensuring proper meeting decorum. Always follow directions and instructions from the Chair.
- Address your presentation and answers to any questions to the chairperson. The proper protocol is to say, “Through you, Mr./Madam Chair” or, if the Mayor is chairing the meeting, “Through you, Your Worship.”
- Make eye contact with your audience and try not to read directly from your slides or speaking notes. Many excellent resources for effective speaking and presentation techniques are available online.
- Once you have finished speaking, remain at the podium until you have been thanked by the Chair. The Chair may ask you to answer questions. Please wait for direction from the Chair before responding to comments or questions from the members.
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| Delegation |
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Any person wishing to appear as a Delegation to a Council or Committee shall submit a request to the Clerk by 4:00 PM on the business day immediately preceding the meeting at which the person desires to be heard. A delegation is for the purpose of directly addressing an item listed on the agenda as being under consideration at that meeting. The maximum time allocation for a delegation is 10 minutes.
Example:
Meeting date: January 8
Agenda Publishing Date: January 4
Delegation Request Deadline: January 5 by 4 p.m.
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| Public Input |
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You must register to speak through the Clerk’s office no later than noon on the day of the Council or Committee meeting. A person is allowed 2 minutes to speak and shall be restricted to comments about items that appear on the agenda for that specific meeting.
Example:
Meeting date: January 8
Agenda Publishing Date: January 4
Public Input Request Deadline: January 8 by 12 p.m.
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Speaking Procedures
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When speaking before Council as a delegation or public input, you should not:
- Speak disrespectfully of any person
- Use offensive words
- Speak on any subject other than the one you provided on your request form
- Disobey a decision of the Chair or Mayor
- Enter into a debate with other delegations, staff or Council members
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