Council Accountability Group (CAG) organizer Marj Andre found the proposal “hostile and alienating,” and John Li, head of Yonge and Bernard Residents Association called it “self-serving and selfish.”

Li also read out loud a few letters opposing the proposal before presenting council Richmond Hill’s employment statistics in an effort to slam the motion as “a deliberate attempt to exclude majority of voters” from taking part in democracy.

Regional Councillor Carmine Perrelli took DiPaola’s side, pointing out coming to council wasn't the only way to participate and communications from the public in all forms were welcome, including emails, letters and phone calls.

He noted a majority of Richmond Hill residents were “shy” and didn’t have the “thick skin” to confront council.

Chan made an amendment to keep one meeting at 9:30 a.m. and the other at 7 p.m. so working residents can at least attend one.

Mayor Dave Barrow shot down the amendment, ruling it was 'contrary' to the original motion.

Chan challenged the mayor’s order but was voted down by a majority of council.

“I will not take the result as it is. We need fight back to 'the gang of four' for this anti-democracy motion,” resident Li wrote to The Liberal after the council meeting.

It’s been a long-held tradition in Richmond Hill to have council meetings in the evenings.

At the beginning of this term, council decided to explore new days and times to hold these meetings.

Earlier in February, council adopted DiPaola’s motion by moving the council and committee of the whole meetings from 7:30 p.m. on alternate Mondays to 1 p.m. on alternate Tuesday on a trial basis from April to September.

The tentative changes were then further modified in July when the representatives decided to hold council meetings once every month on the third Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. from September to Nov. 31. And the committee of whole meeting would take place on the first Wednesday of each month at 9:30 a.m.

The next council meeting is scheduled for Dec. 18 at 9:30 a.m. in the council chambers.

Correction — Nov. 27, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Richmond Hill voted to hold council meetings on the third and fourth Wednesday of each month. In fact, council voted to hold council meetings on the second and the fourth Wednesday of each month.