by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — The Mayor of Whitewater Region Township compared the glass partition in the front foyer of the township hall to the Berlin Wall during last night’s council meeting.
Mayor Hal Johnson said, “It was an excellent choice to (put up the glass partition).
“For us to tear it down may not be, but it’s like the Berlin Wall, it was a proper decision at the time I feel. It should have set in place the message, and now it’s time for us to move it.”
Reeve Terry Millar opened the discussion by noting there are two sides to every story, but transparency is important, which means the glass partition in the reception area of the town hall must come down.
“I’m of the position that we remove that glass for various reasons, just to change the perception of the new council, and open up that office down there so that it doesn’t look like a jail,” he said. “I know there will be lots of opposition saying lots of reasons why it should be there. I don’t think it should be there. We don’t have that at any business in Cobden. We don’t have it at the bank. We don’t have a big crime rate, Mayor Johnson reported that earlier.
“I’m in total support on that issue and I want to vote on that tonight,” he added.
“This process is very slow and these are little items that we want to move forward on,” he said.
Chief Administrative Officer Christine FitzSimons said, “This item came up in December 2012 when council asked me to find ways to increase job efficiency, particularly at the busy three-desk front line and our main counter.”
While there have been changes in staff since then, she noted the one thing that kept coming up was the amount of interruption from the public on the staff who were trying to do their work.
The glass partition was purchased and installed at a cost around $3,000.
Councillor Charlene Jackson said she wanted the glass partition removed as well.
“I had a number of residents approach me with regards to the fact that it doesn’t seem open,” she said. “I would agree. You can’t see the staff inside until you come up to the little wicket. It’s not transparent. As far as a security measure, I would disagree. I don’t think it would take too much of a knock to knock it down into shards, it’s very flimsy.”
As for staff being interrupted while working, Coun. Jackson said it’s up to them to keep on track.
“I think it’s important to engage the public in conversation,” she said. “There are people who come in that like to say hello. Now, if it’s the same people all the time, then I suggest you ask them to move on.”
Sometimes just talking to a township employee can make a person’s day, she said.
“It’s their time to see an actual staff member,” Coun. Jackson said. “It’s a very rare opportunity at a government office that you actually get to engage in conversation with any kind of staff member.
“A municipal (office) is such a public way of doing business, that as long as it doesn’t interfere with the job that they are doing on task, and staff will just have to say, sorry, I have something to do right now. But, if that’s the case, I’m in favour of removing the glass.”
Councillor Chris Olmstead suggested reconfiguring the office or even installing partial walls with glass on top could be a solution.
Councillor Cathy Regier agreed, advising the desks could be situated so they are sideways to the front counter so it’s harder to make eye contact.
However, CAO FitzSimons noted that it’s important staff working in the front office be able to see their co-workers in case they are busy doing something else when the phone rings or someone comes to the counter.
“They need their full visual to understand the dynamics of what’s happening in the office,” she said.
Reeve Millar suggested a sign be installed, once the glass is down, that staff should not be disturbed uncessarily. It could say something to the effect that social visits should be kept to a minimum, he suggested.
Mayor Hal Johnson said while campaigning, many residents mentioned they did not like the glass.
“Although they could understand why the glass was put in place, they felt it was shutting out the friendliness and overall invitation of the public to come into their municipal office,” he said.
Mayor Johnson is in favour of removing it, but wants the glass saved.
He even suggested that where the couches are in the upstairs section between council chambers and the office be turned into a waiting area or an area where residents could meet privately with staff members, such as chief building official Doug Schultz.
He recalled recently watching staff member Danielle Howatson help a customer and she had to go to a few different locations to get information. The resident sat in the front office and looked uncomfortable when people would come into the office and see him sitting there.
Coun. Regier said the glass partition was also a major discussion while she was on the capaign trail.
“I never discussed anything as much in my life as this,” she said.
Reeve Millar said, “It very well could have been a great thing, but now we get the joy of removing it.
“Everybody’s going to enjoy it now.
“Time’s change.
“Reception’s changed a little bit.
“It doesn’t mean it was a bad thing in its day.
“It might have worked for a while and now it’s time for a change,” he said.
Council agreed unanimously to take down the glass partition.
