SIMPLE SOLUTIONS: SATURDAY TOWN HALL HOURS
For the little things that make municipal life unnecessarily difficult.
Not every solution has to be expensive or take a long time to develop.
Sometimes, a Simple Solution is something that works – efficiently, pragmatically and is financially feasible.
My philosophy towards governance is simple: Try → Measure → Learn → Adjust.
Cost: $ — Low
Difficulty: ★ — Simple
Potential Benefit: High
Issue:
Many of our taxpayers are seasonal residents but pay yearly property taxes. They contribute to the municipal tax base that helps pay for snow plowing, waste management, policing and fire services, street sweeping, tree trimming and other municipal services.
These seasonal residents often become like long lost family members, who return in the Spring. We get to chat and catch up on what’s happened over the long winter months. We get together for a drink and a BBQ. And then they depart, like Canada Geese, for their primary residences, wherever that may be – but still pay property taxes for the months they’re not residing here.
But, like many of us, they may have questions or concerns. Many of my neighbours are seasonal residents, and sometimes they have concerns that they’d like to address – in person – for whatever reason.
We also have residents whose jobs may not give them the ability to take a Monday afternoon off work to have a conversation with Town Hall. Add to that, the difficulty of winter commuting.
Simple Solution:
Access to your elected representatives shouldn't be limited to Monday through Friday business hours. And that should include being available to seasonal residents and any other resident who would find it convenient to have a Saturday conversation.
If elected, I would propose that Council establish monthly Saturday Town Hall hours, with Councillors taking turns being available to residents. A problem with streetlights? Potholes? Street flooding? Understanding your tax bill? Although the answer you seek may not be readily available, at least you’ll have someone working on your behalf to find the right answer for you.
And if you’re a full-time resident, and the Monday through Friday hours don’t work for your schedule, then the “Saturday Town Hall” hours might help you as well.
This is an easy-to-track Simple Solution. Keep a tally of how many residents show up on a Saturday as well as their area of concern. The data would tell us what residents are coming to Town Hall about—and whether Saturday hours are filling a real need.
Thanks for listening!
August 24th, 2026
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