What would you do to increase communication and transparency?

As the Irricana byelection set for Feb. 11 inches closer, the Rocky View Weekly will publish the candidate's answers to two questions impacting the town's residents.

This week's question: What would you do to increase communication and transparency between the Town, council and residents?

I truly believe there needs to be more flow of information than just through the Town website. We need to have important decisions reach residents through press releases in the local paper so residents don't feel they are being left out.
The website is fine to an extent, and it does serve a purpose, but it does not satisfy the entire population. Not everyone has or even wants access to the Internet or the website (Facebook, email etc.), so they end up feeling like they are out of the loop. However, they all pay taxes and are entitled to know what is happening in our community.
Internet access is not affordable to everyone and yet everyone needs to be informed.
This point of view also includes any kind of legal notice that should be advertised so people have a chance to file an appeal to an issue that directly affects them or their property.
Right now it is extremely difficult for residents to stay informed.

I believe we need to refrain from hitting the panic button. I would encourage council to get a plan together for the next three to five years of infrastructure repair and development.
Upon completion of this plan we would hold an open forum for the public and make sure it is well advertised weeks in advance by all means available.
We need to restore confidence, to do that there needs to be a plan in place not just for us but for the next generation. This begins with a short-term three to five year plan.

It's no secret there is a disconnect in some ways between Irricana, the council and the residents. What that has created is mistrust between the residents and council. I don't blame the residents at all.
When a council meeting is done, all pertinent, public information needs to be sent out to the residents immediately. This is their town, not the council's. Council is there to govern the town and we are here to represent their interests, not ours. There should be no hidden agenda, like there is with some now.
What I plan to do is to notify residents immediately after a meeting as to what was discussed and decided. This will be done via my Facebook page, and my website, which I'm in the process of creating. Having said that, not all discussions can be made public, which the residents understand. What can be made public will be made public.
Council should have nothing to hide. I think some residents feel council is a secret club. The residents of Irricana need to be informed at all times. I have no issue of being transparent and will make myself available at all times during the day to answer questions and to listen to the concerns of Irricana. I'm running for council to bring a new openness of what we do.
Sometimes tough decisions need to be made, and not everyone will agree. Regardless, the residents need to know what's happening in their town.