These 2 Windsor councillors are divided about council's proposed new start time

City staff in Windsor are recommending council meetings begin three hours earlier come 2024.

The start time has been moved around the past few years.

Traditionally, these were evening sessions which started at 6 p.m., and during the pandemic lockdowns, when everyone was at home, meetings went virtual.

They typically began in the middle of the day. Since politicians and staff have returned to city hall, the start time has been 4 p.m.

City administration is now suggesting meetings commence at 1 p.m. next year. The item is up for debate and possible resolution at today's council meeting.

LISTEN | Windsor councillors debate starting meetings in middle of workday:

In a staff report, it says having the meetings start earlier will help alleviate added costs and "ongoing challenges" surrounding things like staffing, information technology and facilities departments — with limited budgetary dollars.

"In the event of any technological issues that may emerge during a meeting this provides a safety net in terms of additional resources being readily available during regular office hours to troubleshoot the issues and allow for the meetings to continue seamlessly," the report stated.

Coun. Fred Francis says he's not in favour of an earlier start and thinks it will exclude some people from attending. (Dax Melmer/CBC)

Ward 1 Coun. Fred Francis says he's concerned about an earlier start time.

"It could really be a deterrent for those that want to participate, either delegates or people that need to take time off during the workday to come to council, watch council … or just participate in general," he said.

Francis says it could also end up being a potential roadblock for people wanting to run for council — anyone who is of a working age and has a secure day job.

"Will they be able to run for council or will they say, 'that's just a Monday out of the work week that I won't be able to take off.' Even though I'd want to run for council, my employee situation won't let me do it. So that's my larger concern."

Coun. Jim Morrison says he supports the recommendation of an earlier start because more people are watching council on their time and on demand. (Sanjay Maru/CBC)

Ward 10 Coun. Jim Morrison thinks 1 p.m. is a "very good time," and says from the people he's speaking with they do too.

"I'm hearing people telling me the earlier the better," he said. "I think the issue is that times have changed. Thirty years ago, you came home, you sat down and you might have watched council on your cable TV. But nowadays there's so much choice. You can stream this any time. People tell me they're doing it from work and watching council."

Francis says the report they're receiving at council tonight regarding the time change has zero public consultation.

"One of the things I'll be asking for … is that we go back out to the public informally, and ask them what they think. Currently, we're doing more public consultation for parks and recreation for a number of parks in the city than we're asking the public when they want to meet at council and how they want to participate at council."

Windsor City Council used to meet at 6 p.m., then times moved around because of COVID. Most recently council has been starting at 4 p.m. (Jonathan Pinto/CBC)

Francis says he believes moving meetings to the middle of the day is a slippery slope, and he believes the first step toward moving in the direction of a councillor becoming a full-time job — something he doesn't support.

"I don't think it's a good idea. We can't just have a council that is made up of retirees and those that can afford to do it. We want to have diversity on council."

"I think there is a mixture of thoughts and opinions on this," said Morrison regarding the recommended earlier start-time for council.

"People have busy lives. Maybe when they come home from work, they're tired. They have to get dinner ready for their family. The kids have activities they got to get to. They have activities they want to get to. So evenings might not be the best time for a lot of people."