THEBACHA/FORT SMITH - The Town of Fort Smith has taken another big step in opening up lines of communication to and from community residents.

Coun. Ron Holtorf scans the Town of Fort Smith's annual report for 2010 presented at the town's first-ever annual general meeting on Oct. 1. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

On Oct. 1, the town held its first-ever annual general meeting.

"We want to be accountable to the people and people feel that they can come and ask us questions, but we also think it's important to celebrate the achievements of the community," said Mayor Janie Hobart, who said Fort Smith is the only community she knows of in the Northwest Territories to hold such an AGM.

Hobart began the meeting by reviewing an annual report handed out to those in attendance. The document was an overview of how the town operates, what it has been doing and what it plans to do.

The meeting attracted 27 people, although about a third were members of town council and town administration.

The idea of an annual general meeting appeared to be popular with town residents in attendance.

"I think it's a useful forum for the public to sit down and hear firsthand what council's been up to," said Mike Couvrette, the interim chair of the community's tourism advisory board. "They've been in place now for a year and it looks like they're able to provide a good track record of what they've been doing."

Tracey Bird said the AGM is a fabulous idea.

"It's nice to get the information on what's going on," she said. "It's great to connect with the councillors and the mayor. You may not learn anything different, but at least you feel like part of the process."

In particular, she appreciated the opportunity to ask questions.

Bird said she was pleased to hear about the town's planned changes at the landfill and its intention to crack down on unsightly premises.

"It's nice to know what they're doing," she said. "It's nice to know what direction they're moving in."

However, Bird was disappointed with the turnout of town residents for the meeting, although she said some people who are happy with council's performance probably didn't feel the need to show up.

Hobart was generally pleased with the turnout.

"It would have been nice to have a few more people, but it was a nice crowd and I think that the people that came got value for their time that they invested in it," she said.

Hobart said Oct. 1 was picked for the meeting because it's the anniversary of the town's incorporation.

"Perhaps Friday isn't the best night," she said. "It doesn't matter what night you pick, there's something on the go."

Along with holding an AGM, Fort Smith town council has recently begun to take questions from the public as part of its routine meetings.

Hobart said that was the result of a suggestion from a town resident.

She said council considered the suggestion and made the change, adding she is not aware of any other community council in the NWT which accepts questions in such a manner.

Previously, members of the public could only be heard as part of a delegation, which had arranged time to speak to council.

The town is planning to make its IdeasFortSmith open house an annual event. It encourages people to submit suggestions and ideas on future development of the community. The first one was held early this year.

Despite all those changes, Hobart said the town is actually still working on a communications strategy. "We're not finished it."

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