The Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators has released a new national resource to support Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and municipal leaders in strengthening the effectiveness of Council meetings.

Developed in response to the increasing complexity and public scrutiny facing local governments, Leading Effective Council Meetings: A Practical Guide for Mayors & Chairs in Canadian Municipalities provides practical guidance to support well-run, respectful, and productive Council meetings.

"Strong meeting leadership is essential to good governance," said Brenda Orchard, CAMA President and CAO for Lennox & Addington County. "This guide offers practical tools to help CAOs support their Mayors and Chairs in maintaining focus, managing difficult moments, and ensuring meetings remain respectful and effective."

While designed for Mayors and Chairs, the guide is equally valuable for CAOs and senior administrators in their role advising and supporting Council. It reinforces core governance principles, clarifies roles and responsibilities, and provides a structured approach to preparing for and managing Council meetings.

The guide includes practical tools to support:

• clear governance roles and boundaries between Council and administration
• effective agenda planning and meeting preparation
• structured meeting flow and decision-making processes
• managing behaviour and addressing incivility
• protecting staff and maintaining professional boundaries
• real-time support through scripts, checklists, and practical tools

CAMA has also developed a companion resource, Chair's Quick Reference Toolkit: Scripts, Checklists & Tools for Leading Effective Council Meetings, offering concise, ready-to-use materials to support Mayors and Chairs before, during, and after meetings.

Together, these resources provide municipalities with practical, experience-based tools to strengthen governance practices and support consistent, well-managed Council meetings across a range of environments.

The guide and companion toolkit are publicly available on the CAMA website and in the CAMA Toolkit Library in the Member's Section.