There was much backslapping and congratulatory remarks at Municipal Hall this week following the surprise announcement of the new Squamish Service Initiative to revamp local governance.
Although the mood was high within council chambers this week, it would be reasonable for locals to approach this new era with cautious optimism -after all, right now these are "just words," despite Coun. Paul Lalli's comments to the contrary.
The District of Squamish staff and council, however, certainly do have reason to celebrate. An outdated and clunky internal structure with too many departments siphoned through one position (the Chief Administrative Officer) has now been streamlined to provide better and stronger leadership to a core group of general managers.
By all accounts this has not only pleased management, but also the town's union employees, from the office clerk to the street sweeper to the bylaw officer -and since these are the folks most people deal with day-to-day, we prefer them in good moods.
Periodic internal reviews promise to assess that internal mood and maintain the health of the structure as well. Kudos to that.
The Squamish Service Initiative's 35-page outline also brings hope to the multi-residential developers gnashing teeth over the turtle-paced building permits by streamlining that process - although the last complaint about long development delays from the Paradise Trail Equestrian project was met by a sharp rebuke from the man who created the Squamish Service Initiative.
Well nobody said they'd roll over for every quibble and gripe.
A new era in transparency was also heralded with a proposal to enhance community engagement, which already currently includes webcasts of council meetings, town halls, a mayor's email list and newsletters.
So locals will now be better informed OK the Squamish Sustainability Corporation is still off limits, and this latest initiative was sprung on us - but they did say it was based on input from the community, stakeholders, council, industry experts and union and management staff.
Also finding encouragement may be those frustrated not only by the town's governing idiosyncrasies, but by the powerlessness in feeling truly wronged and having nowhere to turn.
The district will now empower employees to communicate with the public and "handle issues, discuss interests and pass on public communication to the organization for information follow-up."
So listen up Guy Trying To Get Local Streets Cleaned Up - this means you.
Unfortunately it doesn't mean the media. Granted, the plan suggests establishing schedules and meetings with media, but unlike every other citizen in town, we still can't talk to staff, only the mayor. Well, baby steps.
The overall message here is the district wants to measure up, but it can only do so if it knows what its residents want. The district has started the work; it's time for residents to do their part. It's time to speak up.
And to those of you who've given up -hey who knows? Maybe this time you'll be heard.
- Sylvie Paillard
