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Councillor wants feedback
Pushes for public meeting and questionnaires to connect with residents

Andrew Rankin
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, November 25, 2010

INUVIK - After a year on the job, town councillor Vince Sharpe wants to know what you think of him as an elected official.

He also wants to know what you think of the rest of the council members elected in October 2009. That's why Sharpe wants council to hold a public meeting with residents to get feedback on its performance thus far.

"Why not get set up a formal meeting to hear from the people we represent?" he said. "I want to know how our residents think we've done in the past year and whether we're doing a good job or a bad job. Can we improve on something? Are we communicating enough?"

Sharpe also wants to follow up a public meeting with a mail-out questionnaire to be sent to all households asking residents to choose what they think the town's priorities should be.

"By holding a public meeting and with a mail out we get more input, more direct input. That's what we want."

His proposal, which was initially brought to council at a regular meeting last month, was met with lukewarm support by members.

Several councillors argued residents already have enough opportunity to speak to them and attend meetings, some of whom pointed out two public meetings will be held next month to discuss the town's 2011 interim budget.

Mayor Denny Rodgers doesn't oppose either of Sharpe's ideas but he questioned whether people would participate, saying that regular council meetings usually only draw one or two residents.

"What do you do to engage people?" he said. "A lot of people are apathetic. It's tough to get people interested. Unless they have an issue that has something to do with them, it's tough to get people out."

But Sharpe said that's even more reason for council to try harder to get people more involved in municipal politics. He said he's not willing to settle for the status quo.

"It's important that we work more closely with our constituents," he said. "I'd like to see people take more ownership of their council."

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