Despite a report recommending the closure of several municipal service centres in Chatham-Kent, the municipality will be retaining the in-person services for the foreseeable future.
During its meeting Monday night, Chatham-Kent Council discussed the customer service review report which had recommended shutting down underutilized service centres in Dresden, Ridgetown and Tilbury. The report also suggested closing municipal information desks in Wheatley, Thamesville, and Bothwell.
While council voted to move dozens of municipal services online, the majority of councillors agreed that face-to-face services should always be present, especially in the small communities of Chatham-Kent.
“It might change how it’s delivered, but there will be face-to-face [services] in each community. Council talked about how important that was and everyone agreed,” said Mayor Darrin Canniff. “That is extremely important to maintain that presence in each and every community in Chatham-Kent.”
Canniff added that it will likely take a full generation before everyone in the community becomes comfortable and accustomed to using online services.
The initial customer service review report was presented to council on June 20 and resulted in an overwhelming response from the community. A total of 105 deputations were submitted in opposition to closing the municipal centres, which took almost two hours to be read by municipal staff.
