Residents of The Town of The Blue Mountains are going to get a chance to give their opinions to local leaders later this year.
At its committee of the whole meeting on August 26, The Blue Mountains council voted 4-1 in favour of conducting a resident satisfaction survey before the end of 2024. Deputy Mayor Peter Bordignon voted against the move, while Mayor Andrea Matrosovs and Coun. Shawn McKinlay were absent.
Tim Hendry, manager of communication and economic development, brought a report to council about plans for the survey. It will be the first broad survey of local residents about town initiatives and services since 2022.
At the time of the 2022 survey, council passed a resolution directing staff to survey residents about town operations, facilities and services every two years.
Hendry said the survey will be conducted online and directly by town staff with support from the town’s survey firm of record -- the W Group.
“We’re confident this is a good approach,” said Hendry, who said the questions in the survey will be very similar to the questions asked in 2022 to allow benchmarking of the results of the two surveys.
The town will promote the survey through the town’s website, news release, the town’s newsletter, postcards to be mailed out, road signs and media advertising.
Hendry said the estimated cost of the survey is between $10,000 and $15,000 and there is money in the 2024 budget for the work.
Bordignon questioned if the survey was necessary. He said he has heard from local residents who have told him they are “surveyed out.”
“Is this necessary at this juncture?” the deputy mayor asked. “Or is it just because we said it would be every two years?”
Bordignon suggested it would be a better exercise for the town to survey local residents about what they would like to see in the upcoming 2025 budget, then a general, broad-based survey.
Other members of council disagreed.
“I do think it’s quite important to keep the commitment and keep it going,” said Coun. June Porter.
Results of the survey will be reported back to council before the end of the year.
