Belleville Council meeting agendas are set by Mayor and CAO

In Belleville, both open and closed council agendas are developed by the Mayor and CAO:

In preparing a meeting agenda, the Clerk shall consult with the Mayor and the Chief Administrative Officer, and shall reflect the direction of the Mayor and the Chief Administrative Officer in finalizing the meeting agenda.

Section 5.7(2) of the Belleville Procedural Bylaw (By-law 2019-48)

The Clerk compiles and publishes the agenda.

Councillors are not involved in the agenda setting process. If they want to have a motion added to the next council meeting’s agenda, they must provide written Notice of Motion indicating their intent by:

• (i) filing with the Clerk in writing, no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Tuesday preceding the date of a regular Council Meeting, a proposed resolution that the Member intends to put forward for consideration at the Council Meeting, and such proposed motion shall be included on the meeting agenda; or
• (ii) giving written notice to Council during Notice of Motions that the Member intends at the next Regular Council Meeting to introduce a motion with respect to a matter so declared.

or raising it during New Business if it is in their opinion that the matters are of urgent concern and within the jurisdiction of Council, or are of general interest. In this approach, it must receive support from a minimum two-thirds of Council to pass.

The Mayor and CAO can add an item to any agenda by telling the Clerk to do so, with no equivalent transparency requirement.