The newly elected mayor of Lockeport says he wants to discuss the issue of transparency when his new council meets for the first time.
George Harding won the mayor’s seat with 170 votes in Saturday’s election.
His only opponent, Howard Roszel, received 90 votes.
Former mayor Darian Huskilson did not re-offer.
Mayor-elect Harding says transparency is important to him.
“Our council presently, as we get the agenda and you’re sitting in the gallery, and then council speaks about a particular topic or motion, but for ratepayers who might be sitting in the gallery, it’s very difficult to figure out exactly what is going on.”
Harding says he would like to see Lockeport adopt the same system that the town of Shelburne does projecting everything on an overhead screen.
Harding says there are challenges in bringing new industry to the town and with a small geographic area, there’s no room for a large industrial park.
He says tourism is one way to increase revenues for local businesses.
He said years ago when the fishery collapsed, the town fell into disrepair because people couldn’t afford to keep their properties up and the town struggled to maintain infrastructure.
“Over the years, gradually, more and more things are improving. The economy is improving, and I think there’s the infrastructure, like good sidewalks and those kind of things that the town needs to pay attention to.”
Mayor-elect Harding says Lockeport has a lot to offer visitors.
