Calls to ease rules on power-point presentations
By Bill Rea

Power-point presentations are getting a lot more common, especially among people making deputations to councils. A Kettleby resident wants the rules eased so more people can use them before King council.

Bob Martin made a deputation to council recently arguing the point, stating people wishing to make presentations on topics that are on the council or committee agenda should also have the right to use appropriate aids, without first having to get the approval of township staff. He pointed out there had already been two powerpoint presentations made at the evening's meeting.

He didn't get very far, however, as council voted to maintain the current situation, with people wishing to make such presentations submitting them to staff the week before.

Councillor Jack Rupke observed letting staff approve the material is a way of ensuring it pertains to the agenda item.

Mayor Margaret Black commented that Township Clerk Chris Somerville has been meeting with her counterparts in other municipalities on this issue, and she suggested the matter be referred to her.

Black also pointed out the procedural bylaw governing the way meetings are run is routinely amended every time a new council takes office. Since that's slated to occur later this year, she said the matter could be brought up again then.

Councillor Steve Pellegrini said he didn't mind getting advice from staff on what should be

done, but he opposed the idea that they would be able to approve presentations.

"That's just outright wrong," he declared. "It's censorship."

Somerville said it wasn't a case of staff trying to approve things.

It's more a matter of making sure the Township's technology can handle the material to be presented. That's why they like to have

the material by the Wednesdays prior to the Monday meetings. She pointed out there have been cases in the past in which King's equipment either couldn't handle the technology, or there were lengthy delays while they tried to get things working. These problems have become less frequent since staff has been getting the presentations ahead of time.