Rocky View County council will be verbally recording votes on all proceedings until the end of the year.
Council approved the trial session, during which every vote will be recorded, June 15.
“I believe in transparent government,” said Greg Boehlke, Division 6 councillor. “I am not ashamed and I don’t think any councillor should be ashamed of how they vote.”
Council, according to Reeve Lois Habberfield, has long discussed the issue of recorded votes. However, it wasn’t until recently the issue became a topic for open discussion.
On May 18, the Public Services Committee directed staff to contact Alberta municipalities that use recorded voting systems to determine costs and benefits.
Staff learned that many municipalities use an electronic system, at varying costs. It also determined that recording each vote without an electronic system would increase council and administration’s time spent at meetings.
Although council voted to instate the trial period, the decision was not unanimous.
Councillor Earl Solberg and Habberfield voted against recording votes, citing costs and increased meeting time.
Habberfield also expressed concern that the reason behind the votes may not be expressed.
“I am not opposed to people knowing how I vote,” said Habberfield. “I just want people to know the whole story. Just to assume people voted against you is only half the story. Why people voted the way they did won’t necessarily be reported.”
Habberfield said councillors already have the ability to request a recorded vote at any time.
Division 8 Councillor Hopeton Louden voted in favour of recording votes, although he said voting results aren’t necessarily what is most important.
“The strength of the debate is what it is all about,” said Louden. “At the end of the day, once the vote is made, you speak as one voice. The goal is to affect the future, to have the strength of the argument so truly you create change.”
Boehlke said a verbal vote would suffice.
“A simple verbal vote is good enough, especially budget wise,” said Boehlke. “To get a recorded vote down doesn’t have to cost us a lot. When the municipal building is built, maybe then is the time to invest in an electronic system.”
Division 3 Councillor Gordon Branson agreed, saying recording votes does not necessarily require a lot of time and money.
“Having been with the school board for eight years, we recorded every vote,” said Branson. “Once you get into the practice, it just goes automatically… I think you’ll find it works more readily than you might think.”
