The Midland Police Services Board has amended its procedural policy to include in-camera items on its public agenda.

The agenda will now indicate details of the subject to be discussed at in-camera meetings. Incamera meetings will held at the outset of regular meetings and the board will report its decisions when the the public portion of the meeting resumes.

In addition, the board has dropped a provision to provide explanatory materials to the media.

Board chair Rob McKenzie said the bulk of material received has to do with conferences or announcements from the government. He said in an interview that the information will still be available if requested by the media.

The amendments -passed by a 3-2 vote -says at least 72 hours notice shall be given to the public and the media by posting the agenda on the board web site.

Provincial appointee Kathy Willis favoured continuing making explanatory notes available to the media. Deputy Mayor Stephan Kramp concurred, saying "supporting documents should be on the web site for both the public and the media.

Police Chief Mike Osborne said the department wants to be open and transparent, but attaching every document received to the agenda could be labour intensive and have a financial impact, he said.

Expenses were also a topic during discussions of the amendments, which took place in March and April.

Kramp proposed that the $100 per diem should be separate from out-of-pocket expenses. He suggested that the board cover child care costs and, in as there was a precedent, give consideration to animal care expenses.

In 2011 the board approved animal care expenses for Willis when she attended an out-of-town conference, but will no longer cover such expenses.