By Pepper Parr
March 21st, 2023
BURLINGTON, ON
The pushing, the delegations, the email and the consistent public comment on not hearing anywhere near enough about that was actually happening with the former Bateman High School site finally got some results.
Kwab Ako-Adjei, Director of Communications and Engagement
Council had Kwab Ako-Adjei, Director of Communications and Engagement, in the Council Chamber telling Council what was in the works.
Kwab has been a busy man – he just wasn’t sharing was being done by his team. They were in fact meeting that very afternoon to suss out some of the plans.
One is a mail out to every taxpayer in the city (it might be every household) that wasn’t very clear.
Ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns, supported by ward 4 Councillor Shawna Stolte put forward amendments that look is as if they were going to pass – Council recessed for about an hour after which they will continue with what Kwab has to say.
Parks, Recreation and Culture are going to be involved with what will be done outside the building and what would be done inside what Councillor Kearns is calling a Community Hub.
Mention was made of possibly meeting with people during the Under the Stars, community film nights that take place in the summer and asking people what they thought.
Kwab assured Council that he would have a fully developed Engagement Plan for Council in May and that he thought there would be both in person public events is as well is as virtual events.
Jim Thomson delegating on what he would like to see done with the football pitch at the rear of the former Bateman High School site.
Ward 5 Councillor Paul Sharman pressed the point that what was planned for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the development be included.
All the Councillors wanted everything that was being thought about on the table where the public could read and be aware of and then have an opportunity to delegate and comment.
Kearns, who is the Deputy Mayor for Engagement, made the point that the purchase of the Bateman school property was the biggest thing council was doing – but that the public wasn’t being given a chance to speak.
While Kearns wasn’t wearing the Deputy Mayor Engagement badge quite yet – she was certainly doing the “giddy up” council dance today.
About time.
