Quickly:
Tell me the names of three City-related Boards! ..... Time's up! Now tell me the names of four members of the CDC! ..... Time's up! What does APC mean? ..... Time's up! Who's the chair of the CHC? ..... Time's up! What is the function of the Treaty Advisory Committee? ..... Time's up! How many members does the Police Board have? ..... Time's up! How do you contact a Committee? ..... Time's up! What is the difference between a Commission and a Committee? ..... Time's up! What is an Alternate? .....Time's up!
I don't want to play anymore! I want to go home!
Don't winge - you can't go home: you are at home! Nelson IS your home!
No cookie for you!
It is to be hoped that this will signal a trend to nudge the blissfully ignorant public towards becoming more directly involved: on a permanent basis, instead of with the occasional indignant, short-term jumping-up-and-down by a few only. There has not been nearly enough of that in the past. And although both sides need to take responsibility for the overall disconnect: City Hall has not reached out nearly enough to make the Nelson citizenry feel part of the decision-making process. An active part!
Although it is possible - through one City-webpage - to determine on which Boards, Committees, Commissions the mayor and councillors serve and to connect with them - through another webpage - by phone or e-mail: their function in these groups is not known to the general public. Neither are the real-time parameters nor composition of these groups: all ostensibly building-blocks within the City-construct - our home!
So - for the sake of openness, direct accessibility and ultimately accountability - it seems appropriate to have listed - on a connected webpage - all City-related Boards, Committees, Commissions and all their members, as well as their chairs; plus contact-information for the groups as units, as opposed to for just one - possibly random - member!
All preceded by a brief introduction to these groups in simple-speak.
To illustrate my point:
When the Funky Monkey's colours catch the public's attention for a brief but relatively intense period, with the Community Heritage Commission's (CHC) role becoming an issue in the discussion - letters to the local paper raise the question: Who are these CHC-people anyway? Not necessarily accusing but simply wanting to know! Because they don't!
Some months ago I want to connect with the CHC through its chair - this example is coincidental, the CHC per se is not the topic here. So I call the catch-all phone-number at City Hall to ask for the chair's name/contact info. The switchboard doesn't know and suggests I connect with the Mayor's Office. Giving me a phone-number for it. Calling there seems reasonable: the CHC holds its meetings in Council Chambers, and the Office is a major conduit. I call: they don't know either but promise to call me back with this info. But don't! Then I call someone very much in the loop with the Cultural Development Commission (CDC) - seeing that there is an umbilical-cord CHC/CDC-connect. But again - nothing!
Most would probably give-up at this stage.
I need this info and eventually could surely get it through someone else at City Hall, but I have found that the best approach in many a Nelson-situation is not necessarily one that needs a game-plan involving several calls - thus people - and confidentiality at the same time. Awkward!
So I end-up getting this very basic City Hall info on the outside!
Approaching a Board, Committee, Commission as a whole through the mayor or councillors seems indirect, inefficient - actually inappropriate - if they are not in a designated decision-making position - including that of spokesperson - within that particular group.
Councillor Kiss is about to open a new door to the wonderful world of City Hall. It is up to the mayor and the rest of Council to pull it open wider from within. And to a concerned citizenry to push it open farther from without! Then enter and get comfy!
Once inside and talking and listening:
Cookies for everybody!!!
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