This week I received from the Town the letters to Council I had previously requested for the January and February, 2024.
Given the date of the letters I received I will not summarize and/or review their contents
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PRIOR POST
Prior to October 2022, Council included in the monthly council meeting agenda package a copy of all correspondence received by Council during the approximate 30 days prior the date of the meeting. I recall hearing a town official say that the practice had been in place for about 10 years.
Publishing council correspondence in the monthly agenda package provided a very good way for residents to get a sense of fellow residents’ concerns, questions and opinions.
The Town has Routine Access Policy. This policy allows residents to request a copy of select documents without having to make a Freedom of Information Request.
In an attempt to make up for the missing correspondence from the agenda package, the Council amended the Town’s Routine Access Policy to include Town Council correspondence.
Routine Access Policy paragraph 5.4(m) states:
“Staff having custody of the requested record will release one copy, at the no charge (unless otherwise noted), of any of the following records within two business days of a request. (My emphasis.)
(m) Correspondence addressed to all Town Council whether received via email or mail or hand delivered to the Town.“
I had intended in this portion of the website to include a summary of some of the correspondence received by Council. To that end, in early October 2024 and again in early November 2024, I made written (by email) requests to the Town Clerk for a copy of all correspondence received by Council during September and October, 2024.
As of November 25, 2024, I have not received a copy of any correspondence.
You can find the entire Routine Access Policy here:
https://wolfville.ca/sites/default/files/2024-03/120-010_Routine%20Access%20Policy%202024-02-27.pdf