Niagara-on-the-Lake council is on its annual August break, with meetings scheduled to resume Sept. 9.

During the hiatus, there will be no council, general or planning committee-of-the-whole meetings. As a result, no new bylaws or motions will be passed during this period.

Coun. Erwin Wiens, who also serves as deputy lord mayor, said the practice is common across Canada and has long been part of the town’s council schedule.

“That has been traditional before I ever came about,” he said. “Most people are on holidays during the summer, so they go on to cancel that meeting.”

While council and major committee meetings are on hold, other committees continue to meet. Most recently, the municipal heritage committee met on Aug. 6.

Wiens said the planning committee-of-the-whole meeting on Sept. 9 will likely have a “very full agenda” due to the 30-day break.

The council calendar is set a year ahead of time, with this break in August planned in advance.

During their time off, council members will attend the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference in Ottawa from Aug. 17 to 20.

Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa said the trip includes “several one-on-one meetings with provincial cabinet ministers, where we are bringing forward issues important to NOTL.”

daniel@niagaranow.coms