A longtime councillor who didn't seek re-election in the October 22 vote has suggested the upcoming council term be adjusted slightly.
"About three elections, or four elections ago, the province moved the election date from mid to end of November, to mid-October," said Mike Kelch during Monday's meeting. "That's fine, but the city did not ever adjust the inauguration date to match that."
Kelch said the delay is awkward.
"This is our third council meeting since the election. It feels really weird. There should have been maybe one council meeting for everyone to go 'see ya later,' and then have everyone engaged from the new council already."
Kelch thinks it would benefit everyone.
"We would not have to be putting the budget forward. We wouldn't have to be postponing anything. It's just a suggestion. It's not a motion. But, I think the city needs to take a look at having no more than one council meeting after an election and get the new folks in here, as soon as possible afterwards, so that they don't have that big budget landing on them the very first thing that they do."
A budget input and grants session planned Monday was postponed until December 11, and budget deliberations planned that day have been moved to January.
Mayor Mike Bradley requested the change to give new council members an opportunity to attend the meetings, ask presenters questions or pass motions for further information or direction.
Sarnia's newly elected council will be inaugurated December 3.