Several weeks ago notices delivered by the Postal Service advised our area residents of the upcoming dates and locations of five town hall meetings which had been arranged to address the budget for 2023-24 and the status of the strategic plan for Loyalist Township. Public input was encouraged so much to my amazement I was the only member of the public to attend the meeting at the Odessa town offices on Sept. 19.
To their credit the mayor, deputy mayor, councillors and staff gave a full, clear and concise presentation of these vital topics to their audience of one. Since we had been invited to bring our concerns forward, I spoke to the assembled group about my specific interest ~ public transit. The resulting discussion/conversation, which included several reports and informal input was frank and informative covering updates on the present status of this initiative, the planned progress and areas of concern. Kudos to all who hosted this presentation.
While the reticence of many to offer suggestions to a governing body is understandable and one may feel that there is little that an individual can do to alter policy, our input needs to be made known in this type of public forum. Non-partisan municipal governments usually welcome constructive and well reasoned advice/suggestions and constituents who take part in such an interchange of ideas might better understand and can question how political decisions are prioritized and made. Responsibility goes in both directions.
Thank you,
Susan Blay
Loyalist Township