The warden of the Municipality of the County of Richmond says the only all-new council in the Quad Counties is working really well.
Not a single incumbent councilor won their seat in October’s municipal election.
Amanda Mombourquette says it is interesting to be around a table where everyone is starting from the same place.
Mombourquette tells The Hawk many of them are one the same side of the issues.
“There’s a great deal of optimism a real eagerness to get some things done.”
Mombourquette says, even when they are not, the discussion is thoughtful and respectful.
She says, while their council is green, they have a strong mandate from voters.
Mombourquette says the election results show people wanted change.
“When the council elections came along, residents really were looking for change, so they voted for wholesale change at the table,” she says. “Now it gives us an opportunity to look at the lessons learned over the last year and see what we can build on.”
She says they certainly lost experience around the table, but former councilors throughout the province, and others in the municipal service community, have offered their support for the fledgling council.
Mombourquette says their most important goal for the upcoming year is increasing transparency and engagement in the county.
She says it’s something all councilors heard loud and clear when they were campaigning.
Mombourquette tells The Hawk they will continue to focus on their accountability measures.
“We’ve reinstated question period, we’ve got some renewed interest in people participating on committees of council,” she says. “There’s always more that a municipality can be doing in that regard, and I think a good accountability strategy is one that is continuously evolving, continuously improving.”
She says its great to have so much community engagement, and so many qualified applicants to chose from for their committees.
Full interview here:
