While municipal council allows for public comments, the tone of some of these comments has Mayor Peter Waterman concerned.
In his mayor’s report on Monday evening, Waterman addressed the tone of comments he has noticed on controversial issues and called for a respectful tone.
“Where things jump off the rails is when hard positions are taken either for or against proposals prior to substantive information being available,” he said. “Thus, harsh comments can sometimes be made on social media, and passions and opinions overtake fact. The result is intimidation, and the fear to speak out for or against a position. Careful consideration should be taken before hitting the send button.”
Shortly after he was elected as mayor, Waterman and the council changed the municipality’s procedural bylaw to allow more opportunity for public comment.
Instead of one public comment period at the end of the meeting, the change now allows two opportunities for comments. The first is early in the meeting, after any public hearings or delegations but before the mayor’s report. The second is at the end of the meeting.
“The district has made great strides to increase communication and inform the public on specific issues,” he said.