Rules of Order and Meeting Processes Workshop

Municipal Elected Officials Session

This session is a joint initiative with NSFM

Friday, March 25, 2022 @  9:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location: Village of New Minas - Louis Millett Community Complex  (9489 Commercial Street, New Minas)

Ever wonder why some municipality’s council meetings only take 40-50 minutes while others take 4-5 hours? Ever wonder why some municipality’s council meetings are smooth and efficient while others look and feel more like a governing party versus her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in great debate and critique? The difference is almost always directly tied to efficient and effective use of rules of order and meeting processes.

Strong staff reports, clear motions, and a detailed review of issues prior to council meetings by elected officials are a cornerstone of good governance and decision-making. As a team, staff and Council jointly hold full responsibility and accountability for ensuring this happens.

This session will provide municipal staff and elected officials with the context surrounding why we have rules of order and meeting processes, how to make clear motions and amendments, when to approve, accept or adopt reports and what it means to do so, preparing meaningful and relevant minutes, voting, quorums, conflict of interest procedures, basic decorum, lots of meeting process discussions, and several quizzes from both Robert’s and Bourinot’s Rules of Order. The entire day will involve real-life examples from Nova Scotia municipalities and simulation exercises. And the best part is that there will be no PowerPoint slides!

Facilitator: Chris McNeill, former Registered Parliamentarian, Chief Administrative Officer, Region of Queens Municipality

Registration

To register for this module please complete the following online registration form. *Note: If you are registering multiple individuals complete one registration form, per individual. Cost to attend is: Early Bird rates until March 11 is $250. If you register after March 11, the cost is $300.

We can only accommodate up to 30 participants in this workshop and attendance is granted on a first-come, first-serve basis.

If you wish to cancel your registration you must adhere to the AMANS Event and Training Cancellation Policy.