ROTHENBURGER: ‘Community conversations’ a chance for council to redeem itself

Indeed, I worry that the politicians and bureaucrats will spend too much time talking and not enough listening.

And there will be complaints they aren’t true town halls because of the way they’ll be segmented into table discussions. In fact, though, dividing the hall into “stations” to discuss various topics can be an effective way to provide more people with a chance for input and to summarize it all.

That only works if there’s also an opportunity for the assembly as a whole to come together at some point for a question and answer. That’s where the true town hall part comes in, and to their credit councillors have included that.

This drawn-out exercise could be council’s attempt to redeem itself for establishing a truly dismal record on public engagement and transparency — during its first year, it’s given the impression as a group that it’s unwilling to listen to criticism.

So, better now to take council’s words at face value when it says it wants to provide a way for residents to express concerns and frustrations “free from intimidation.”

There’s more to lose by staying away than there is by showing up and being heard.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.

by Mel Rothenburger

ROTHENBURGER: ‘Community conversations’ a chance for council to redeem itself

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