CREMONA - The Village of Cremona council has approved a new public participation policy, bringing the municipality into line with the updated provincial Municipal Government Act.
The move came during last week’s regularly scheduled council meeting.
The policy has been developed to “recognize the value of public participation and to create opportunities for meaningful public participation in decisions that directly impact the public,” the policy states.
There are four general principles outlined in the policy:
- Creating opportunities for municipal stakeholders who are affected by a decision to influence the decision.
- Promoting sustainable decisions by recognizing various municipal stakeholder interests.
- Providing municipal stakeholders with the appropriate information and tools to engage in meaningful participation.
- Recognizing that although councillors are elected to consider and promote the welfare and interest of the municipality as a whole and are generally required to vote on matters brought before council, facilitating public participation for matters beyond those where public input is statutorily required can enrich the decision making process.
Public participation tools outlined in the policy include in-person participation, digital participation such as online polls and surveys, written submissions, representative participation such as sitting on advisory committees, and through delegations before council.
Under the policy, council responsibilities include to “consider input obtained through public participation,” ensuring “appropriate resources are available to solicit public participation,” and promoting and supporting public participation.
Administration responsibilities include reporting the findings of public participation to council and developing the necessary procedures to implement the policy.
Also under the policy, members of the public engaging in public participation are required to be “respectful and constructive.”
“Municipal stakeholders who are disrespectful, inappropriate or offensive, as determined by administration, may be excluded from public participation opportunities.”
