Local government council should be accessible to citizens for public input.
The Muncipilaity of North Cowichan holds council meetings in the middle of the day at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays when people with businesses, jobs or picking kids up after school cannot attend. Is this intentional or is it time to be corrected?
I asked, while on council in 2016, 2017, 2018 in January when schedules were discussed to change council meetings to early evening, i.e. 5:30 p.m., to provide access for the public.
I had checked Vancouver Island and the only two local governments at that time holding daytime municipal or regional meetings were Tofino and North Cowichan.
Excuses by councillors: we would be here until the wee hours, our meetings are so long, bringing to light another change needed – to keep meetings ‘on track’ and focus on decisions.
Cut the rhetoric of some councillors going on about their life experiences irrelevant to the business of the day.
People considering a position on council for the Oct. 15 election could find the council meeting times inconvenient if they own a business or have a job.
Councillor Kate Marsh was absent from council online meetings March 1-Aug. 31, 2021 for six months, apparently while being paid. She had also admitted to missing four months of the 2011-2014 term during the 2018 council meeting where mayor/council voted themselves a raise. Absent 10 months in 10 years, not doing her ‘job’ as elected.
Change needed from the excessive, unfair CAEP 0.5 per cent tax charged since 2014, nine years with no end date, supposedly to ‘reduce emissions in North Cowichan’? Unfair tax with the Trans Canada Highway driving through North Cowichan where municipal taxpayers have no control of emissions – another carbon tax.
The 2021 CAEP Reserve Fund = $603,355 to do what? The Environmental Advisory Committee with chair, Councillor Kate Marsh, has taken over North Cowichan priorities with a ‘wish list’ inconsistent with local government responsibilities.
The EAC pushed for hiring two senior environmental positions plus consultants over and above municipal priorities – water, sewer, roads, garbage and public safety. Staff are required in other departments that provide basic services for our tax dollars.
Recognize CAEP is included in unrealistic tax increases of 9.26 per cent or ?
Joyce Behnsen,
North Cowichan