Penticton City Council unanimously approved an amendment to their procedure bylaw, allowing council members to use electronic communications methods to participate in closed or special council meetings.
Under the new bylaw, councillors will be able to participate in meetings using Skype or similar means.
Coun. Helena Konanz wanted to be sure that the new procedure didn’t apply to regular meetings of council.
“It is only for special meetings, it is not for a regular meeting that they can Skype in?” asked Konanz, which Corporate Officer Dana Schmidt confirmed.
The privilege is limited to no more than two members at a time, and council members may only participate electronically twice a year, and cannot preside over the meeting remotely.