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 Bill Beamish’s answers. Update: See below for statement by council candidate Carol Doyle
1) Do you support several opportunities for public inquiries during council meetings?
Yes, two. As chief administrative officer for the Town of Gibsons from 2003-2007, I recommended that council add a second inquiry opportunity for the public because I felt that the one at the end of the meeting was being abused by council who, depending on who was in the gallery, would often keep a meeting going until everyone in the gallery got tired and went home without asking their question. As a result, I implemented the Gibsons Community Dialogue Program where on the last Thursday each month, anyone could come and meet with me and any members of council who wished to attend and discuss issues of interest or concern to them. Occasionally, staff members like the planner or director of finance would also attend if we knew in advance that a particular issue was to be discussed.
I also recommended to council that an additional inquiry opportunity be added to the agenda at the beginning of business so that members of the public could ask questions about items appearing on the agenda. The second inquiry section was for other items of general interest. As you know, council does not always respond to questions because they do not know the answer and are reluctant to get into a debate or discussion of an issue without input from staff, so they may refer to staff for a future response. But normally, if the answer is simple and direct on point council may respond.
Unfortunately, it is possible for these inquiry opportunities to be abused, so it is important that some limits be placed on them such as time or number of inquiries so that a meeting can proceed and/or end. However, if everyone respects the process, inquiry opportunities can be helpful and can inform council’s decision-making.
2) Do you support public inquiries about topics not on the agenda of council meetings?
Yes; see my answer above.
3) Should public inquiries, and the answers provided, be included in the minutes of council meetings?
No. I think it is appropriate to list the name of a person making an inquiry with a note about the nature of the inquiry, i.e. John Doe, Gibsons, affordable housing, or Gibsons Way upgrades, etc., but not the entire question verbatim or the reply, if any. In council meetings, minutes are kept as a record of agenda items and decisions that are made by council. When staff try to take verbatim minutes, there is always some disagreement about what was said, requiring further discussion and amendment. As well, often a councillor or person minuted will attempt to change the minutes by saying “That’s not what I meant” after the minutes are published, which takes more time and discussion. If council issues a direction to staff to follow up with a person making an inquiry, that should be recorded as a council direction.
4) Do you think an opportunity for public input before every vote at council meetings is a good idea?
No. See my response to Question One.
5) Should the minutes of council meetings include entire discussions and matters raised, including the names of the speakers?
No. See my response to Question Three.
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?
That is up to the council member and mayor, if they have time.
7) In your opinion, does council need to vote unanimously?
No. Decisions should be made by majority.
8) What is your view on public hearings? If a majority of the speakers express a certain opinion, what should council do?
Council members should listen and consider what weight they give to the opinions expressed in addition to other information, experiences or opinions that they may be aware of. Council members vote independently on issues: they are elected to make decisions that they believe reflect the best interest of the whole community, not just those of people who attend and speak at public inquiries.
9) What is your view on providing Town documents to the public when asked? Which categories should not be released, if any?
The Town is required to follow the provisions of the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which establishes the public’s right to access government records. The public has access automatically to council and committee agenda materials and minutes which are published on the website and to other documents provided they are not of a personal nature, legal advice or [the] subject of ongoing litigation, the disclosure of which would normally be handled between lawyers as required for discovery purposes. I believe in open government and would make an effort to ensure information about council activities, expenses, calendars, etc., are open and available, either online or by request.
10) In your view, what are the best methods for council to achieve meaningful consultation with the public?
Formal and informal consultations or dialogues can be used to achieve meaningful outcomes. Traditionally municipalities hold consultations or inquiries because they are required in advance of a decision being made for, say, an official community plan or zoning bylaw amendment. These are often transactional (check the box) in nature and do not involve any discussion or sharing of information or opinions. Council listens and then makes [its] decision at the time or at a subsequent formal meeting.
Similarly, the inquiry opportunities at council meetings are normally a one-way flow of information without discussion. Dialogues are designed to be less formal opportunities to delve into an issue, to discuss and share ideas and to enable participants to reach a better understanding of each other’s positions, views or opinions. Prior to participating in a dialogue, participants are asked to follow certain rules of respect and process that ensure everyone has an opportunity to speak and to be listened to. In the end, while participants may still not agree, and often positions shift, enabling solutions to be developed that participants can live with or accept. Dialogues are also better opportunities for building relationships between participants, and building trust.
When Wayne Rowe was mayor, he cut inquiries back from three to one during council meetings. Despite the definition of the word “inquiry” (the act or an instance of asking or seeking information, says Canadian Oxford), he also never answered a question. You could check that factoid in council minutes. Oh, wait a minute, no, you can’t. No record is kept of inquiries. Will Mayor Beamish and this council reinstate three inquiry opportunities? Will they actually answer taxpayers’ questions? Provide townspeople with the information they seek? And maybe they can look at ways around the reasons NOT to record inquiries. Talk to the manager of communications, who can be tasked with finding solutions to any “problems.”
Rowe also changed the procedures manual so that delegations were severely limited. Will the new mayor and council re-open the way for citizens to present information to council through delegations?