The Town of Port Hawkesbury is a Corporation that was established under the authority of the Town's Act. Repealed in 1989, the Town's Act was replaced by the Municipal Act which now establishes the framework for the legal operation of the Municipality.
The statute, itself, does not specify procedure for the conduct of municipal council meetings; rather, the councils are empowered to adopt, through by-laws, their own procedure.
Meetings
Town Council, Committees, Boards, Commissions; and, Societies
The Port Hawkesbury Town Council conducts its business in a Committee-of-the-Whole system. Under this system of governance the Town Council meets twice a month. The first meeting of the month is the regular Town Council meeting that is held on the first Tuesday of the month. The Council, at this meeting, ratifies previous discussions and directions of the Council that have taken place at the Committee-of-the-Whole, and other standing committees. It also serves as a forum for public presentations on current issues, the issuance of public proclamations; and, approval of tenders and/or resolutions.
The Committee-of-the-Whole, held on the third Monday of the month, operates as a "sounding board" for issues related to matters of public works; policing and fire services; parks and recreation issues; and financing and policy issues. The Council, operation as a Committee-of-the-Whole, is actually making recommendations to itself that are effected when the minutes of that meeting are approved at the next Regular Town Council meeting.
Town Planning, which operates as a Statutory Committee of Council, is responsible for the implementation of policies and guidelines that serve as a framework for development of the community. It meets on an "as required" basis when issues requiring the attention of committee members are needed.
The Town Council, through appointments, participates in other Boards, Commissions and Societies, for which there is a public interest and/or there is a commitment of public funds to their operations. Examples include the District Planning Commission, the Regional Development Authority, and Regional Library Board, and the Waterfront Development Society, to name some.
Quorum
Quorum refers to the minimum number of members whose presence is necessary for the valid transaction of business. The Municipal Government Act identifies this as a "majority" of the maximum number of persons that may be elected to the Council.