How much modern technology is too much when it comes to public’s business?

SUNDAY MORNING EDITORIAL — How much modern technology is too much?

We pondered about that in this space awhile back, and City council did the same pondering this week.

The Kamloops Heritage Commission, trying to find answers to concerns about its difficulties in getting quorums at some of its meetings, suggested that an answer might be the use of teleconferencing.

There’s some irony in the fact that a group that spends its time talking and thinking about old things is trying to lead the way in bringing modern technology into community consultation. Anyway, a recommendation was brought to City council that the procedural bylaw be changed to allow for teleconferencing in meetings of City committees and commissions.

That would, by the way, include City council.

What seemed like a simple decision turned into a difficult one as council members noodled over whether it was such a good idea. Coun. Nelly Dever said she couldn’t support it.

“How do we test stuff?” asked Coun. Arjun Singh, thinking a pilot program might be better than changing the bylaw right away.

“It’s worth a try,” said Coun. Marg Spina.

Mayor Peter Milobar, though, didn’t support it either. “If we allow it for one we allow it for all,” he said.

“You lose the richness of the discussion,” Coun. Ken Christian worried.

“Richness” is an interesting word to apply to some of the discussions of public bodies, but his point was valid. Many groups use teleconferencing to bring those who can’t be in the room, into the room. But it’s not as effective as being there.

And what if it became a habit, councillors asked. Should there be a Skyping limit, so that commission members could only call in to meetings a certain number of times a year?

Technically, any City commission or committee can make use of teleconferencing now; the issue is whether members should be allowed to vote long distance. One can imagine, for example, an entire council meeting being conducted by all members simply phoning in.

Council probably did the right thing by defeating the recommendation to change the bylaw right away, and instead do some more investigating on the costs and implications of sanctioning quorums via phone.