Council Meetings

Regular Council Meeting

Council's role is to represent the public and to consider the well-being and interests of the municipality. Town of Fort Frances Regular Council meetings are scheduled on the second and fourth Monday of each month (or following day if lands on a holiday). Meetings are held in the Council Chambers at 320 Portage Avenue, Fort Frances. In-Camera sessions will take place in the Committee Room, with reporting out to take place publicly back in the Council Chambers. For 2025, these meetings begin at 5:30pm Central. Starting January 2026, meetings will take place at 5:00pm Central.

Special Council Meeting

The Head of Council may at any time summon a Special Meeting of Council on 48 hours notice to the Members of Council, or upon receipt of a petition of the majority of Members of Council, the Clerk shall summon a special meeting for the purpose and time mentioned.  The only business to be dealt with at a special meeting is that which is listed in the notice of the meeting.

Notwithstanding the notice requirement set out above, in the event of a bonafide emergency the meeting may be held as soon as practicable following receipt of summons/petition, as the case may be, and notice may be given by telephone or personal contact as determined by the Clerk.

Public Meeting

Council must hold a public hearing (Public Meeting)  to obtain public input on matters that have a significant impact on the citizens and property owners in the municipality, under The Municipal Act and or the Planning Act. Council can hold a public hearing on any other matter it chooses, even where a public hearing is not required by legislation.

Requirements for public hearings recognize the important role that the public plays in the decision-making process. The public hearing enables Council to provide comprehensive information on a proposal to citizens and obtain their input on the proposal before making a final decision.

Examples of when a public hearing is required:
• Presentation of the annual Budget of the municipality
• Long-term borrowing by the municipality for capital projects, if not included in the annual financial plan of the municipality
• Proposal to close a municipal road
• Proposal for local improvements / special services
• Proposal to adopt or amend a zoning by-law or official plan amendment 

What is the purpose of a public hearing?
The purpose of a public hearing is to provide a reasonable opportunity for all persons who believe that their interest in property or matter is affected by the proposed bylaw to be heard by Council, or to present written submissions regarding matters contained in the bylaw. It is your chance to express your support or concerns about a particular matter before Council makes its final decision.

The main function of Council at a public hearing is to listen to the views of the public. Council members may ask questions to clarify points raised in the submissions but it is not the role of Council at the public hearing to debate the merits of the proposed bylaw with individual citizens or each other.

What happens at a public hearing?

The Mayor reads an opening statement to the public, indicating what will happen next.
Administration informs Council of any written submissions that were received prior to the public hearing.
Administration gives a descriptive overview of what is proposed by the bylaw.
The Mayor then invites members of the public to make their verbal submissions.
The speakers give their name and address and indicate whether they are in support of the bylaw or not and any reasons they wish to express to Council. If the speaker wishes to give written information to the Council, the speaker is to give the information to Administration.
Members of Council may ask questions at any time.
When there is no one else wishing to speak, the public hearing is then closed.
There may be more than one public hearing held on the same night. The procedure is the same for all.

What happens if I wish to make a submission at the public hearing but I cannot attend the public hearing?
You can send a copy of your written submission to Administration before the public hearing. You are encouraged to send the written submission by noon on the Thursday before the public hearing is scheduled. However, you can still provide your written submission to Administration on the day of the public hearing.
Please note that your written submissions and your verbal comments, which are noted in the minutes, are available to the public. Consequently, you cannot request that your name and address be kept private.

What happens after the public hearing is closed?
After a public hearing is closed, Council is not permitted to listen to any further delegations or receive any written submissions on the same bylaw.

The proposed bylaw can only be considered by Council after the public hearing has been held.  Council will have to decide whether it wishes to proceed with the bylaw, make changes to the bylaw or not to proceed. Usually, Council may consider the bylaw later that same night if there is a scheduled regular Council Meeting but that consideration may be postponed to a future Council meeting.