New West canvassing Flagstaff residents for FIP

Shane Pospisil from New West Opportunities presented to Daysland residents at their town hall meeting, held Nov. 14 at the Sunbeam Senior’s Centre.

New West has been hired by the Flagstaff Inter-municipal Partnership (FIP) to facilitate public consultation, and to that end, Pospisil told residents that he and his team would be appearing throughout Flagstaff over the next few weeks, to give residents every opportunity to learn more about what is being proposed in the regional governance project, and to give their input.

Pospisil referred residents to a new website, myflagstaff.ca, where a report on the project can be downloaded, or read on site.

“FIP is looking specifically at a single-tier governance model,” Pospisil says. “It’s not our model, we are just here to facilitate discussion.”

Pospisil talked a little about his and his firm’s expertise, especially in his case, with long-time municipal financial experience in the Province of Ontario, and says that the situation and discussions are not unique.

He says, “There are significant challenges across the region.”

With regards to the survey, Pospisil stressed that, “There has been no decision made, just a prudent review based on evidence.” He also stressed that agreeing with the proposed single-tier government does not represent a commitment, just a willingness to explore further.

He told residents that FIP is looking for informed input from the community.

He says he and his team are looking at being as accommodating as possible, even taking survey replies over the phone. “I took 16 calls today, and the responses so far have been highly informed.”

Pospisil told residents, “This is potentially the biggest decision of your lives.”

He praised the Town of Daysland on their town hall meeting, saying, “This is an example of transparency at its finest.”

He stressed that New West’s role is only that of facilitating consultations as residents look at the regional governance project information and provide their feedback.

“There are significant challenges across the region,” he says. “The why of the discussion is clear.”

He says the region is not only facing challenges, but opportunities, for growth and business and residential attraction.

Pospisil and FIP Chair Bob Coutts were available after the meeting to answer questions, also with copies of the 16-page summary report of the project and proposal, as well as hard copies of the public survey forms.

The New West team is scheduled to appear throughout the region, often at other special events.

Pospisil said Monday, Nov. 19, that team members attended the Christmas Market in Daysland on Sunday, Nov. 18, and handed out nearly 200 surveys while there.

He says the responses that have been received to date have reflected well-informed points of view.

He’s very happy with the response rate and quality of responses they’ve already received, and says he hopes it continues as they move across the region meeting with the public.