Municipal committees are working groups created by a municipality consisting of a limited number of members of council who study proposals or issues on specific topics under the committee’s Terms of Reference (mandate), and in greater detail. They perform a large portion of municipal work.
They also provide a forum to debate issues and allow interested groups and individuals to make presentations or submit written correspondence. The chair of the committee reports back to council and makes recommendations for changes in policies and procedures.
Committee meetings are defined in the Municipal Act, 2001/the City’s Procedural By-law and must be open to the public.
Types of municipal committees
Committees can be statutory, discretionary or ad hoc:
Statutory Committees are permitted or required by Provincial legislation and perform functions as specified in the relevant legislation.
- Committee of Adjustment
- Property Standards Committee
- Accessibility Advisory Committee
Standing Committees oversee administrative operations, conduct hearings or act as review bodies – usually focusing on a specific area of business, such as planning and development, social housing, public health or public works. Councillors normally sit on standing committees, while municipal staff act as advisors. In some cases, standing committees include members of the public.
- Airport Committee
Ad Hoc Committees are temporary working groups made up of volunteer members from the community, experts, councillors and municipal staff created by Standing Committees to investigate and report on a particular matter. Unlike a standing committee, an ad hoc committee is not a legal entity. It has no statutory powers.
They are discontinued by Council resolution when their recommendations upon the specified initiative or matter have been provided and further recommendations are no longer required.
Advisory Committees are working groups made up of volunteer members from the community, experts, councillors and municipal staff appointed by Council to provide recommendations, advice, and information to Council about specific topics that relate to the stated purpose of the committee.
Members are selected by the appropriate Standing Committee and are appointed by Council. These committees vary in structure, responsibility and length of term.
- Accessibility Advisory Committees
- Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee
- Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee
Statutory committees and local boards
Committees and local boards required by provincial legislation to perform functions as specified in the relevant legislation. They have authority to address their responsibilities as determined under the relevant legislation.
Property Standards Committee
The Committee established under the Property Standards By-law, hears appeals against orders issued under the By-law. The Committee has the authority to confirm, modify or rescind an Order and may extend the time for compliance, as long as the general intent of the by-law and the Official Plan and policy statement are maintained.
Committee of Adjustment
The Committee of Adjustment is a quasi-judicial tribunal and an independent body of Council-appointed citizen members. It hears applications under Section 45 and Section 53 of the Planning Act, allowing or refusing variances from the Zoning By-law, and exceptions to non-conforming properties.
Planning Advisory Committee
Accessibility Advisory Committee
Municipalities with populations over 10,000 must appoint an Accessibility Advisory Committee (AAC) to help them prepare the plan. Two or more municipalities may set up a joint committee, instead of having their own separate committees.
Police Services Board
Library Board
The Library Board is appointed by the City Council through the Clerk’s Office and is tasked with governing the Library.
Public Health
Provincial Offences Board
Regional Marketing Board
Local boards
Council may establish Local Boards as it sees fit to carry out functions which Council may authorize it to perform.
Conservation Authority
Waste Services Board
Business Improvement Area
Business Improvement Areas are organizations that exist to promote a geographically defined area. The two primary activities of the BIA involve promoting the area as the place to work, live and play in Hamilton and advocating on behalf of its member businesses.
When it comes to advocacy for member businesses, the BIA works to help resolve any operational barriers property and business owners face within the BIA.
Optional advisory committees
A municipality’s priorities and values (and strongest interest/lobby groups) are reflected in what advisory and ad hoc committees it has.
Here are examples of the many types of committees used in municipalities across Ontario that individuals and interest groups may want to bring to their own communities.
Cultural Exchange Committee
Planning Advisory Committee
Provides advice and makes recommendations to Council regarding land use, development and community planning.
Economic Development Committee
Provides strategic recommendations to City Council regarding the resources required to support investment attraction, business growth and retention, tourism and economic development issues management.
Grant Committee
Community Safety and Well-Being Advisory Committee
or Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee
Emergency and Community Services Committee
Finance Committee
Transportation Committee
Transit Advisory Committee
Heritage Committee
Advises on the conservation of buildings of historic or architectural value and on all matters relating to the designation and preservation of heritage conservation districts in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, and not on new planning and development.
Housing and Homelessness Advisory Committee
To communicate and work to address the needs of citizens within the community for whom barriers exist to accessing safe, suitable, and affordable housing, including the supports needed to enable citizens to obtain and retain their homes.
To support the City of Hamilton’s 10-year Housing and Homelessness Action Plan by providing information, advice, and recommendations regarding the Action Plan’s successful and meaningful implementation.
Downtown Advisory Committee
Climate Change and Environment Committee
or Environmental Stewardship and Action Community Advisory Committee
Arts and Culture Advisory Committee
To recommend activities for the stabilization and strengthening of the arts community.
To monitor and assist with the implementation of the Arts Awards Program and Public Art Program.
To inform Council of issues and achievements in the Hamilton arts community and acts as a point of contact for members of the arts community regarding issues affecting the arts community.
Equity and Anti-Racism Advisory Committee
or Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Oppression Community Advisory Committee
Veterans Committee
Reporting to Council, through the Emergency and Community Services Committee, the Hamilton Veterans Committee oversees the planning and delivery of military remembrance and commemoration activities on behalf of the City of Hamilton. When directed by Council, the Committee will provide input on projects and issues that are of concern to Hamilton Veterans.
Seniors Advisory Committee
Cycling & Trails Advisory Committee
Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
Ad Hoc committees
Councils may establish Ad Hoc or Advisory Committees to provide opportunities for members of the public to have input into their decisions.
Election Compliance Audit Committee
Independent body appointed by Council considers applications submitted by voters requesting compliance audits of candidates’ election campaign finances and identifies any apparent contribution contraventions in accordance with Sections 88.33, 88.34 and 88.35 of the Municipal Elections Act.
Housing Task Force
Environmental Ad-Hoc Committee
Committees can be created and dissolved by the mayor
The head of council has the power to establish or dissolve committees and appoint their chairs and assign functions:
Powers re committees
284.8 Subject to the regulations, if any, the following powers of the municipality with respect to prescribed committees, or committees within a prescribed class of committees, are assigned to the head of council:
1. The power to establish or dissolve committees.
2. The power to appoint chairs and vice-chairs of committees.
3. The power to assign functions to committees. 2022, c. 18, Sched. 2, s. 1.
Council may, by resolution, discharge such committee and appoint another committee in its place, or disband the committee in its entirety.
Belleville Procedure Bylaw
Committees are guided by their Terms of Reference
Each committee must follow their Terms of Reference as approved by Council.
Each committee operates within a City Council approved terms of reference document that provides a framework for the function of the committee. The most vital piece of the terms of reference is the committee’s mandate. The committee’s mandate sets forth the topics and areas of jurisdiction that your committee may discuss and provide advice to Council on.
Subcommittees may be created to advise committees
The Advisory Committee may form subcommittees and working groups as may be necessary to address specific issues, noting that clerks do not provide secretarial support to these groups. These subcommittees and working groups shall draw upon members of the advisory committee as well as outside resource members as deemed necessary. The chair of the subcommittee and/or working group shall be a voting member of the advisory committee.
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