Figure of speech -
Do you know how your municipality operates? Do you know who your Town councillors are?
Municipal governments make policy, raise revenue and ensure the implementation of policy.
Municipal government is the first tier of government, however it is the government that affects you the most. It's the government that ultimately determines your tax rates, whether or not your business permit or home permit gets approved, approval of paving or other upgrades on your street or even the services like garbage collection and local stadium upkeep.
For those of you who don't read the bi-weekly council reports, I cover the meetings and share that information with you - the reader. It's information that directly affects you, that's important to know. Whether it's a motion to approve a new business or to develop 22 lots uptown - every decision is based on what council determines to be right for the people of their community.
For me it's nothing new to attend a council meeting and absorb all the information given. However, I'm very disappointed. A council meeting is open to the public, although in my time covering council meetings, both in Lewisporte and Baie Verte, I have only seen approximately five people attend the meetings.
I always suggest to anyone who asks about council meetings to attend one themselves. I believe as a resident, a person should know who their Mayor and councillors are and be aware of exactly how municipal politics in their community works.
If you need any convincing of the importance of municipal politics in our community, you have to look no further then the Lab and X-ray protests. Where do you think that service would be right now if it wasn't for the determined mayors, councillors and committees that rallied the residents together to fight to keep a necessary service? I think credit is deserved to your municipal politicians for a fight well fought - a fight they fought for you.
psnow@pilotnl.ca
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