Wawa Municipal Council could be moving.
In their Committee of the Whole meeting last night, Council was apprised of a request to move Council Chambers from the current location in the top level of the Town Hall building downstairs, into the former OPP space, which is currently used as a meeting area and host site for various events - a move intended to make Council Chambers more accessible for both councillors and the broader public.
While CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill noted a number of potential pitfalls or concerns - including changes to furniture, layout, and equipment that may be needed for the new space, compared to the current chambers - it was Councillor Mitch Hatfield who questioned the potential impact on court proceedings, which are currently held in Council Chambers - O'Neill noted hopes the court would also move into the more accessible location, but there are certain needs that the court has which might not be met, so she'll discuss that with the court.
All councillors spoke in favour of the idea, with Mayor Melanie Pilon acknowledging the potential loss of decorum as the current chambers are "rooted in history", but emphasizing the need for the chambers to be more accessible.
As Council showed approval for the idea, the recommendation from O'Neill was that staff take efforts so that the move can happen by March.