After carefully observing the MRC and its public relations over the last 17 months, it’s become clear to me that there is a disconnect in the relationship. But I don’t think it’s malevolent in nature, as some would suggest, it’s just a byproduct of bureaucracy. A human element, a community element, is what needs to be added to move forward with purpose and get things done.
So, I propose this – a human! A new role at the MRC, a Community Relations Coordinator (let’s call them the CRC). The MRC has the ability to create new positions to meet its needs, they’ve created at least a couple in the past year: Environment Manager, Director of Property Assessment etc. The CRC’s job would be to focus on and communicate with the community. When the big issues come up – the incinerator, property evaluations, etc. – it would be their job to communicate with the leaders of citizens groups and find out what they expect and need. “Hello Mrs. Doe, your group is expecting 60 residents to attend the next MRC meeting? Great, let’s call a special meeting instead, and hold it at the Campbell’s Bay RA so that there will be room for everyone.”
I understand there’s a current MRC bylaw stating that the mayors have to vote at a previous meeting to change the location of the next meeting, but it’s a bad bylaw, and it should be changed. It doesn’t provide the MRC with the agility required to meet the needs and expectations of the public in a timely fashion. It also doesn’t make sense to summon the mayors from the four corners of the Pontiac just to vote on moving a meeting.
Another option would be to hold more public consultations, which I believe is what the citizens are asking for in the first place. A vote isn’t required to hold a public consultation. Just do it.
The bottom line is that concerned residents expect – and have the right – to be heard. But, the Council of Mayors also needs to be able to function without having meetings commandeered by the issue du jour. The big issues need their own time and space. There’re typically about 20 items on an MRC agenda, each important. The organizations and individuals affected by each of those items matter too. Non-profit organizations are waiting for grants, emergency response equipment needs to be purchased, and who’s going to plow the parking lot so we can all show up for the next meeting needs to be decided.
So, let’s figure out a way to work together, not against each other. Let’s figure out how to eliminate bureaucracy as much as possible and replace it with humanity instead. We’d get a
lot more done, and everyone would be happier.
