Appear as a Delegation

Everyone is welcome to attend open meetings of the Township of North Huron’s Council and Committees. Most Council meetings offer an opportunity for individuals to speak about items that appear on the meeting agenda.

North Huron’s upcoming Council and Committee Meeting agendas can be viewed on the Agendas and Minutes page.

Contact Township Staff

If you have a concern about Township services or programs, we encourage you to contact Township staff to discuss the issue before registering as a delegation. Some citizen concerns can be addressed internally by staff and do not require a Council decision.

If your issue cannot be resolved by staff, staff can then advise you of the next steps to address your concerns, which may include appearing before Council and/or a Committee of the Township of North Huron.

Appearing as a Delegation

A "delegation" is when a person or group of people address Council or a Committee for the purpose of making a presentation. Those wishing to appear before Council or a Committee regarding municipal business may submit a delegation request by completing a Request for Delegation Form. Once your delegation request form has been received, the Clerk’s Department will arrange to schedule you on the appropriate agenda and send you a confirmation message with instructions for participating in the meeting.

Deadlines for Registering to Appear as a Delegation

A fully completed Request for Delegation Form must be submitted by no later than 4:30pm on the Wednesday prior to the meeting in which the delegate is requesting to attend. This form may also be submitted by email to delegations@northhuron.ca or delivered in person to the Clerk's Department at the North Huron Municipal Office.

Once your delegation request form has been received, the delegation will be scheduled for the appropriate agenda at the discretion of the Clerk. The Clerk’s Department will send you a confirmation message with instructions for participating in the meeting.

A schedule of Regular Council and Committee meeting dates and times can be found on the Council, Committees and Boards Schedules page.

Requirement for Delegation Presentation Materials

All delegation presentation materials (such as reports, presentations and other material to be presented) must be submitted to the Clerk’s Department by no later than 4:30 p.m. on the Wednesday prior to the confirmed meeting for inclusion on the public Council or Committee meeting agenda. PowerPoint presentations and handouts can be uploaded with the Request for Delegation Form or can be submitted to the Clerk’s Department via email at delegations@northhuron.ca

If your delegation presentation materials are submitted after the deadline, your delegation presentation may be moved to the next available Council or Committee meeting at the discretion of the Clerk.

Why are my Presentation Materials Required Prior to the Meeting?

To meet the municipal requirements for accountability and transparency, sufficient notice is required to be provided by the Township of North Huron so that members of the public are aware of what will be discussed at the Council or Committee meeting. Council or Committee members also need to know the reasons you are attending and staff need time to generate background information. This notice period is outlined in the Township of North Huron Procedure By-law. For more details regarding this notice period, please contact the Clerk’s Department at 519-357-3550.

Time Limits

Delegations are limited to ten (10) minutes in length to address Council or a Committee. This time limit does not account for questions from members of the Council/Committee.

Only one person at a time is permitted to speak and must be acknowledged by the Reeve or Chair prior to speaking.

Groups and Associations

Community groups and associations are required to select one or two individuals to speak on behalf of the group. Please let us know if you are appearing on behalf of a community group or association. You cannot register multiple delegations and you cannot register on behalf of someone else.

What to Expect at a Meeting

Delegation presentations are near the beginning of the meeting. Prior to a delegation presentation being heard, the Reeve or Chair will call you to come forward to the podium when it is time for you to speak. Please state your name for the record and organization or company you are representing, if any.

As a delegation, you shall not speak disrespectfully of any person, use offensive words, speak on any subject other than the subject for which you have received approval, disobey any decision of the Chair or enter into debate with other delegations, staff or Council/Committee members.

What Happens Next?

The purpose of a delegation is to provide information to a Committee or Council. After hearing your presentation and asking questions, the Committee or Council may or may not pass a motion on the matter. They might refer the matter to staff to gather information or prepare a report or, they might make a motion recommending taking action on your issue.

If a motion is made, the matter may carry forward to a future Committee or Council meeting. Please be aware that a final decision from a Committee or Council may take several meetings.

If you require additional information regarding the delegation process, please contact the Clerk’s Department at delegations@northhuron.ca or by calling 519-357-3550.