SUNDRE — Administration is recommending a permanent installation of a glass shield at the municipality’s front entrance.
But staff suggested waiting until the fall before committing to any kind of renovations to council chambers.
“With the reopening of the province in Stage 2, we’ve gotten more guidance on what might be requirements for businesses and offices to reopen,” said Chris Albert, director of corporate services, during a recent council teleconference meeting.
“We are required, of course, to protect the health of our staff and our visitors,” said Albert, presenting a report on recommended renovations to adhere to provincial guidelines.
The document includes work that could potentially be carried out within council chambers, he said.
“(But) that portion, we are considering delaying as there is a summer hiatus of council, and the requirements may end up changing as we get into the fall,” he said.
Meanwhile, he explained that directions from Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) identify “engineered protection” as the preferred solution to mitigate the risk of not only COVID-19, but also any future pathogens.
“So, that would mean barriers.”
However, he said protective services, administration, and staff are wondering whether something more permanent than Plexiglas, which is in high demand, should be installed at the front entrance.
“Plexiglas currently is apparently a very hot commodity. So, there are long delays in getting Plexiglas orders in, which is one of the reasons that we opted for the glass installation,” he said.
Plus, “it’s permanent — it won’t fog and scratch over time,” he added.
During times of emergencies, there is typically provincial and federal funding available to help cover such expenses, he said.
However, “we have had no communication yet as to whether or not the COVID pandemic would qualify, and if there’s going to be any funding coming in the future,” he said.
“If something does come available, we will definitely apply for it and potentially cover our costs,” he said, requesting council accept the report for information.
Coun. Richard Warnock so moved, initiating a discussion.
Coun. Cheri Funke said Plexiglas should be sufficient to protect staff and visitors, and also expressed budget concerns.
“The more permanent changes should be brought to a budget discussion,” said Funke.
The councillor also said the proposed changes to council chambers are, “for a lack of a better term, I think it’s overkill.”
If physical distancing could not be achieved, Funke expressed confidence that staff and council would wear required personal protective equipment, and that anyone who does not feel comfortable would still have the option of calling in.
“This is not a budgeted expense,” she said about the upgrades.
“Council should have more to do with the decision than just accepting it for information and hoping for a grant. I do not support just approving this for information.”
Coun. Rob Wolfe agreed.
“A piece of Plexiglas would be sufficient as a temporary basis. You see all these businesses throughout town, that is all they’ve done. I don’t see why we need to go to the level that we’re going to. And if we do go there, I do agree that it should be a budget discussion.”
Coun. Charlene Preston requested the matter be further discussed at the upcoming workshop.
Mayor Terry Leslie, who supported the motion, said the report highlighted OHS requirements that staff are trying to act on to keep everybody safe within the existing budget.
“From a council point of view, once we allocate budget numbers, then staff get to have free rein as to how they spend those expenditures,” said Leslie.
Wolfe agreed safety is paramount, and requested available documentation that corroborates the recommendation to install permanent structures, which the mayor concurred would be appropriate for further discussion in the near future.
Albert said that information could be presented during the planned workshop.
The mayor called a vote on the motion, which carried with Wolfe and Funke opposed.
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