Sechelt councillor Mike Shanks is hoping the District will do more to counter the perception that projects are being stalled in the approval process and that the business of running the municipality is being hampered by staff turnover.
Sechelt council has faced criticism on that score through community groups on social media, and in the letters page of Coast Reporter.
“This is an issue that I’ve brought up on a couple of occasions in terms of my frustration in terms of hearing misinformation out in the community about three or four specific projects that have been going on and been in the media,” said Shanks during the council reports section of the July 5 meeting.
“The overall issue for me is trying to let the public know the overall status of our staffing issues and how we’re dealing with those.”
Shanks said he was prepared to bring a motion forward to take out special ads covering the status of the SSC Properties application, Trellis Seniors Services, and the projects awaiting a traffic impact study before being sent back to public hearing.
He said the goal is “to give factual information… I think it’s time that we need to speak up and clarify our position on each one of those items.”
Mayor Bruce Milne suggested the idea be turned over to Sechelt’s communications staff for input. He also said the upcoming annual report will get some of that message out.
“Even with staffing challenges this has been a very productive local government,” Milne said. “An awful lot was accomplished in 2016, including the highest number of building permits and more developments than have ever been seen, and processing almost 200 more business licences than we’ve seen on average. It’s a thriving economy with a very busy community and a very effective local government, despite the rumours.”
