Clinging to past no way to thrive
Editor:
For those who missed Monday’s Council meeting, Mayor Measures shared that he had a conversation with the (previous) Clerk to remove the Public Participation Portal as he “expressed his great concern that this Council return to normal operations as soon as we possibly can.”
Perhaps I am alone in this (although I don’t believe I am), but I am deeply worried by Mayor Measures’ narrow vision and short-sighted thinking. This is a huge red flag, signalling the mayor’s tunnel vision to move entirely backwards, affecting this issue now and countless others ahead that will try to move Clearview Township forward. Enabling the public to submit written comments online engaged the greatest number of people and the widest range of voices possible. Mayor Measures actively chose to do away with this at the first opportunity. Leadership that wants to revert as quickly and completely as possible is troubling. Some things have indisputably been forever changed by the pandemic and clinging to the past is no way for us to ensure Clearview will thrive well into the future.
While Mayor Measures’ decision to eliminate the portal absolutely restricts ways for the public to engage in our democratic process, he remarked several times during Monday’s meeting that reverting to participation only in person is “moving in the right direction.”
I emailed him directly, insisting that the Public Participation Portal be immediately reinstated, asking why it had been taken away, and Mayor Measures’ reply was to provide instructions on how to show up to the meeting in person. Perhaps I was supposed to be grateful for any type of reply, however I found it infuriating for Mayor Measures to miss the point entirely (whether knowingly or not) and to see he felt no obligation to extend a shred of courtesy or respect that would come with answering a direct question. Mayor Measures could very well be acclaimed and handed another term as he currently has no opposition in the upcoming election. Oof.
On a much brighter note, huge thanks to all those who reached out to our elected officials and taxpayer-funded Clearview administrators to question the baffling decision to claw back access to our own municipal government. Mr. Witzke, your in-person attendance to raise this issue during public participation was a wonderful surprise and very much appreciated as it helped us all. We also couldn’t have done it without Councillor McKechnie’s motion and Deputy Mayor Burton’s support, after which Council voted unanimously to return this basic access to its constituents.
The next regular council meeting is being held on Monday, July 25. Submit your comments and views no later than noon on Friday, July 22 to have them included. Link not available at time of writing but forthcoming on Clearview’s website.
Samantha Margis,
Creemore.
