The Municipality of North Hatley sent out a notice today, less than seven (7) hours before the meeting, indicating that there will be a meeting this evening before the municipal council to present its citizen consultation process in connection with the master plan.
According to the municipality, this plan will enable the Municipality of North Hatley to set the broad outlines for the development of this key sector, particularly with regard to the consolidation of the urban fabric, the planning of living environments, green spaces and commercial zones. Sounds pretty important!
This is undoubtedly an extremely important information session for citizens, as it concerns the future of the village as a whole.
Yet to give citizens less than 7 hours’ notice of this meeting strikes me as highly inappropriate.
In its press release, the municipality states that citizens will be able to express their views and comment on the proposals from midday on June 4 until June 30 via a survey and an online platform, and at an open house to be held on June 14. The information announced tonight will also be published in a newsletter tomorrow morning.
One thing’s for sure: if you miss such an information meeting and want to ask questions afterwards, you look like a “lisp”. You run the risk of being told “Sir, Madam, we discussed this at the June 2 meeting”.
However, several citizens have already told elected officials that it is unacceptable to inform the population of a meeting with less than 48 hours’ notice, except in the case of an emergency.
Citizens must be able to organize themselves before such a meeting. Take families, for example: they must be able to plan for a babysitter. With less than seven (7) hours’ notice, it’s difficult.
This leaves a bitter feeling about the intention of elected officials. Are they trying to pass on information smoothly to as few people as possible, are they disorganized, or do they simply not care? No doubt it’s just clumsiness. But is it legal to hold such an important municipal meeting with less than 7 hours’ notice? Remember the last special council meeting with less than 24 hours’ notice?
On that note, enjoy reading the newsletter, which will be sent out tomorrow morning!
Press release from the municipality sent at 12.08 p.m. for a meeting to be held at 6.45 p.m. on the same day.
