A local councillor wants area residents to have a more public say on whether or not plans for a community hub in downtown Chatham move forward.
During Monday night’s council meeting, Ward Six councillor Alysson Storey entered a notice of motion requesting that deputations be allowed at the October 21 meeting prior to a vote on whether to proceed with plans to amalgamate the Civic Centre, museum, and library in the former Sears building on King Street West.
The motion will be discussed at council’s meeting on October 7, two weeks before the community hub report comes back to council and the same date the report will be released to the public.
However, municipal officials have said that while the early release will give residents time to review the information and submit emails expressing their opinions to council prior to the October 21 vote, deputations will not be permitted.
In a recent news release, officials said there have been plenty of opportunity for feedback, including three public information sessions that were attended by over 300 residents. Two online public surveys were also conducted, as well as three stakeholder engagement meetings and several one-on-one meetings with local advisory committees and boards.