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Municipal Council meetings are open to the public and offer a variety of ways for you to stay informed and get involved. Discover more details on upcoming meetings, including how to watch or participate, and information about closed sessions.

Meeting Schedule & Agendas

Council meetings are typically held twice per month, with special or emergency meetings scheduled as required. Meetings take place in Council Chambers (157859 7th Line) or occasionally at Meaford Hall.

Agendas are published in advance of each meeting. To subscribe for email notifications for new agendas , please register.

Subscribe to receive agenda notifications

Watch

All regular Council meetings are livestreamed and recorded for public viewing.

Participate

You can participate at Council meetings in four ways:

Want to present to Council? Here’s how you can do so:

  • Contact the Clerk at least 14 days before the meeting (clerk@meaford.ca) with the subject of the presentation
  • Submit your final materials 10 days before the meeting (must be in ppt, docx, etc.)
  • You’ll have up to 10 minutes to speak during the meeting
  • Please note there is a maximum of 3 presentations per meeting, based on a first come first serve basis
  • Note: the presentation must be within Council’s scope
  • Note: timelines may differ for meetings

Want to speak about something on the meeting agenda? You can:

  • Register with the Clerk before 10 a.m. on the meeting date
  • You’ll have 5 minutes to speak
  • Please note, no presentation materials are allowed
  • We allow a maximum of 10 speakers per meeting

Have a question for Council? Participate in Public Question Period:

  • Register with the Clerk before 10 a.m. on the meeting date
  • You’ll have 2 minutes to ask your question
  • The Chair or staff will give a brief answer where possible
  • Questions must be about municipal business

Can’t attend a meeting? Share your thoughts in writing:

  • Send an email to council@meaford.ca
  • Mail/drop off letters to 21 Trowbridge Street West, Meaford, ON N4L 1A1, 
  • Your comments will be shared with all members of Council
  • All communications become part of the public record

Please note if you aren’t able to attend a meeting in person, let us know during registration and you will be registered for virtual participation. This is done through the Zoom platform and meeting access information will be provided before the meeting.

Public meetings and special meetings may have different public participation information that will be noted on the agenda.

For complete details, please refer to the Procedural By-law Section 28.

Closed Meeting Information

Except as specifically allowed under the Municipal Act, 2001, Council meetings are open to the public. In limited circumstances set out under section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001, Council may meet in closed session, which means that the public cannot attend and the information discussed is confidential. Examples of reasons Council may meet in Closed session include to discuss matters such as personal matters, litigation, or  negotiations. 

Before moving into a closed session, Council will meet in open session and take a vote to move into closed session, with the resolutions stating the reason for meeting and the general nature (topic) of the discussion.

Following closed session, Council will report out in open session to confirm that the discussion included only the item(s) noted in the resolution to move into closed session, and state whether direction was provided to Municipal staff or officers (e.g., lawyers, consultants). 

If you have concerns about a closed meeting, you may contact the Clerk below or file a complaint through the Municipality’s Closed Meeting Investigator, the Ontario Ombudsman.