Municipal councillors have a tough job.
They’re generally average citizens who are sent into office through the power of the vote. They spend the duration of their term making large-scale decisions about the allocation of resources and the future of the city, as well as any day-to-day issues that pop up. They’re well-known in the community, and should be approachable when their constituents have comments or concerns.
With that said, often when constituents appear before council, it’s because something isn’t going well.
It can’t be easy to shoulder all the big picture issues, or even the quick-fix problems facing the people of Flin Flon. It’s a large responsibility.
Last week’s council meeting saw what must have been a record-breaking turnout of nine residents in the audience, not counting two regulars who were absent from that particular meeting.
There were members of the Pride committee, who have shown a commitment to putting the time and effort in to show up when they want something accomplished. And then one by one some faces that were relatively unfamiliar to council chambers trickled in. Two people simply watched the proceedings. One person said they were there to learn how council meetings work. Three people eventually voiced concerns over the safety of the community.
There was a glimmer of hope to be found in the attendance of that council meeting – to see people come out and engage in a face-to-face dialogue with the leaders of the community regarding their concerns was promising in an era where many people prefer to ceaselessly and unproductively vent their frustrations on Facebook.
There were some uncomfortable moments, too, during that meeting. Tensions rose as one member of the public felt, with reason, their questions and concerns weren’t taken seriously by council. At times the conversation devolved into frustrated tones on both sides of the bench.
As Mayor Cal Huntley quite aptly put it during that meeting, this council operates pretty “loosey goosey,” and they are comfortable with that. In some ways it works for this council. In others, it arguably doesn’t.
Huntley went on to say that audience members are essentially expected to show a sense of decorum.
But audience members should be able to expect that same sense of decorum from council when they attend.
This surely won’t be the last we hear about safety in the community in council chambers – it’s a sensitive topic that affects all residents, and one that seems to be more and more pressing. It’s a large responsibility for the leaders of the community.
Questions and constructive input from the community on community issues such as this can be a good thing, because in so many cases, the solution to the issue at hand is a community solution.
Council and the community would do well to keep an open, considerate, respectful dialogue on this topic and any others that arise. Open communication is surely part of the key to a solution.
