Pemberton mayor Jordan Sturdy is inviting local residents to come chat with him about issues important to them in a new series of public appearances that he hopes will become a regular occurrence.
Sturdy’s Coffee with the Mayor series begins next Thursday (April 7). He said Monday (March 28) that he’s always eager to hear what Spud Valley residents have to say on local and municipal issues, and that the new program creates a dedicated setting for dialogue.
“I always get button-holed and I certainly don’t mind that — that’s part of my job. But it’s all just happenstance,” he said. “It’s like ‘Oh, there’s the mayor, should I talk to him or not talk to him? I don’t want to bug him.’ Frankly, I prefer when people come up or phone me… but I can understand why people don’t necessarily do that.
“So I thought I would make a formal time available in a public setting to say ‘Here I am, and if you’ve got something to say, come and say it.’ I’m happy to listen, explain, understand or however people want to use the time.”
Sturdy said the idea to start the program came after he attended a Local Government Leadership Academy forum earlier this year that had a strong emphasis on communication and leadership style.
“It’s all about communication, understanding your community and your community understanding what the objectives of the administration are,” he said.
The April 7 event takes place at the Mount Currie Coffee Company from 9 to 11 a.m., while another is scheduled for the Pemberton Legion on April 28, running 5 to 7 p.m.
