June 23, 2007
By David Fleischer - yorkregion.com

Council trying to get you interested in town affairs

Richmond Hill - Finding ways to get the public interested in important initiatives is difficult, but the town is trying a new approach.

Last month, it kicked off a new initiative that will see special presentations on various topics presented to the community at council meetings.

“We decided that sharing information as well as engaging citizens are important aspects of municipal government,” Mayor Dave Barrow said.

Typically, community members do not come to council chambers unless something controversial is afoot in their back yard. But with the town in the midst of several big initiatives, getting the public involved has become a priority.

The May 28 council meeting featured a presentation by staff on the town’s environmental efforts including its GoingGREEN initiative and healthy yard program.

Tuesday, staff will brief council — and the public — on the significant work going into rewriting and updating Richmond Hill’s strategic and official plans.

Richmond Hill has gone 25 years without updating its Official Plan and town officials want to be creative in bringing the public on board in understanding how the plan works.

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