SIMPLE SOLUTION: BRING BACK THE 15-MINUTE MIC

Cost: $ — Low

Difficulty: ★ — Simple

Potential Benefit: High

Democracy can be messy.

And, as the saying goes, every village has an idiot.

On occasion, I may be that idiot.

But here's the thing:

Two things can be true at once:  Being a politician doesn't make you the smartest person in the room. And being a resident doesn't make your opinion less important or valuable.

Residents should have a reasonable opportunity to stand up at a Council meeting and talk about the things their local government is doing — what they support, what they question and, perhaps most importantly, what they don't support.

Not everyone is comfortable writing a formal delegation. Not everyone understands municipal procedure. And not everyone has the time aor inclination to navigate the current process just to say:

"I don't think this is a good idea, and here's why." It’s always the “why” that is important to listen to.

I'd bring back a 15-minute public microphone session at Council meetings. Expand it if there is a demand from the residents.

It would be simple.

Residents could speak about items on the Council Agenda for that specific date and tell Council what they think.

There would, of course, be reasonable rules:

• A defined time limit for each speaker. This was shown to work exceedingly well at the recent Town Hall meeting. One person shouldn't be allowed to hold the microphone captive for 15 minutes.

• No profane or abusive language.

• No unfounded accusations or personal attacks.

• Speakers must address the matter before Council — and not talk about Susie down the street and her dandelions, or Jerry and his constant use of a leaf blower. We shouldn't lose the ability to be neighbourly, and simply say, "Hey, can I talk to you about something?"

• Council should listen respectfully, even when any Councillor disagrees. This moment belongs to the resident — not the Council.

• There may be some “hot topic” Agendas – like property taxes – that will require more time, but that’s doable with some planning and announcing to the residents that the “Open Mic” session is extended.

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This isn't about giving everyone an unlimited platform.

It's about giving residents a voice.

Municipal government deals with the stuff that affects us every day — roads, development, parks, taxes, parking, garbage, recreation, planning, beaches and a hundred other things most of us don't think about until something goes wrong.

People should have a straightforward way to say: "Here's what I think."

Council doesn't have to agree.

In fact, sometimes Council shouldn't agree.

But Council should listen.

Because democracy isn't supposed to be neat and tidy.

It's supposed to be people talking to the people they elected.

And sometimes those conversations will be uncomfortable.

Sometimes they'll be inconvenient.

And occasionally, someone might even say something that makes the rest of us think:

"Well... that's an interesting idea."

That's okay.

Let people talk.

A microphone isn't a threat to good government.

It's one of the ways good government listens.