How much openness and transparency do the candidates for Gibsons mayor and council support? The Coast Clarion asked them.
Opportunity for public input at council meetings in Gibsons has been lacking and many people feel they have not been listened to at public hearings. The Coast Clarion sent a 10-question questionnaire to all 10 candidates for mayor and council to find out how they view openness, fairness and engagement with the public. These are William Moysey’s answers.
1) Do you support several opportunities for public inquiries during council meetings?
Yes.
2) Do you support public inquiries about topics not on the agenda of council meetings?
Yes.
3) Should public inquiries, and the answers provided, be included in the minutes of council meetings?
Yes. Public inquiries are absolutely relevant to the record and should be treated as such.
4) Do you think an opportunity for public input before every vote at council meetings is a good idea?
Yes. I would hope that if we are about to vote on an issue we would have already consulted the public effectively.
5) Should the minutes of council meetings include entire discussions and matters raised, including the names of the speakers?
Yes. Reading the minutes as they are currently shared left me feeling a little under-informed. If people care enough to read the minutes, they deserve to know the whole picture.
6) Do you think council members and the mayor should have a set time every week for members of the public to approach them on a personal basis?
Yes. It should be easy for people to reach their representatives; the more we can do to facilitate that, the better.
7) In your opinion, does council need to vote unanimously?
I think council should represent a range of opinions; we should work toward consensus, but it might not always be viable.
8) What is your view on public hearings? If a majority of the speakers express a certain opinion, what should council do?
Public hearings are crucial to maintaining an interactive relationship between council and community. If the majority of speakers express a certain opinion on a given topic, council should take a serious look at the concerns and issues being presented and see that they are effectively addressed.
9) What is your view on providing town documents to the public when asked? Which categories should not be released, if any?
Town documents are public documents. I can’t think of any reason to hide any of it.
10) In your view, what are the best methods for council to achieve meaningful consultation with the public?
Making relevant information readily available through media/social media; inviting feedback online, in person, by phone etc; making the public feel welcome at council meetings and public hearings; proving through action that mayor and council are actually listening.