Wednesday's special council was the meeting Elliot Lake needed.
The arena update report was detailed, put into writing, and shared with the public in advance. Key staff and a professional expert, in attendance at the meeting.
We really can 'do open government' in Elliot Lake
At the meeting, direct questions were raised by a resident and councillors. Questions that were clear and pointed - not necessarily personalized, but they came right to the point.
To paraphrase a couple: “how did we miss this [site condition problem]?” And “the public is asking, 'Shouldn’t we have just built a new one?'”
There were many other good questions, but those two were the most direct.
The answers were equally clear; equally frank. Again, to paraphrase, “to save costs, risk was shared.” And “we are still far below the cost of a new one.”
But the most important thing we learned Wednesday evening was: We really can “do open government” in Elliot Lake. And it’s better for everyone when it's done in the open. Accountable and transparent. Just like the Municipal Act calls for.
However, open politics are messy and challenging to keep constructive.
The skills are in-house
The easiest way to control the public at a meeting is to shut them out. Don't give information in advance. Reduce or eliminate public input. And don't ask any questions that could be embarrassing.
But like an old inner tube, if you squeeze the bulge down, it just pops out somewhere else. (Did anyone say, social media?)
The mayor showed that he could manage a difficult meeting well. The resident speaking during Public Input with a sharp question went well over his two minutes. The mayor, rather than interrupting him, gestured to the deputy mayor in a manner that questioned the time. It let the speaker know he was over. Respectful and smooth.
And later, when a couple of attendees kept chirping comments, they were finally warned directly. Plenty of latitude there too. Appropriate meeting control without an unnecessarily heavy hand.
The skills needed to conduct meetings with more public input are in-house.
What to do about that pesky social media?
During the past two years, council has repeatedly expressed its frustration with social media posts and comments. Those just keep popping up with the most inconvenient questions and observations. Some of them are based in reality. Many of them not.
If council wants to address “the problem of social media rumours,” what they did Wednesday, is how to do it.
Open the curtains and open the windows. Let the light and the fresh air in.
Thank you and Merry Christmas
So, thank you very much for doing exactly that, at the special council meeting of December 18, 2024, Elliot Lake council and staff.
A sincere Merry Christmas to you and yours, too.
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