Douro-Dummer Township councillor launches website

A new councillor in the Township of Douro-Dummer has launched a personal website to keep in touch with constituents – a first for any councillor in the township.

Coun. Heather Watson, who was sworn in on Tuesday (alongside the rest of council) as the councillor for Douro Ward, campaigned on increasing community involvement in the decision-making process. She says she created her new website, HeatherWatson.me, as a tool to enhance community involvement.

Watson says it’s not a novel idea – former Selwyn Mayor Mary Smith had a personal website, and many Toronto city councillors maintain websites too.

Watson has the skills to build her own website, so she created one (at no cost to taxpayers, she notes).

During the campaign, Watson blogged – and she said she put some of those posts, which include her campaign promises, on the website as a kind of “permanent record”. She said she’ll also be posting prior to township council meetings to let the public know what issues are on the agenda. Following meetings, she says she’ll write about why she did or did not support a particular motion.

The township’s website will still be available for municipal communication, she noted.

“This will add to what the municipality’s already doing – with commentary,” she said, adding that she may also post about community events.

The Mayor of Douro-Dummer Township is J. Murray Jones; he will be sworn in as the warden of the County of Peterborough County on Dec. 12.

Also on township council are Deputy Mayor Karl Moher, Coun. Shelagh Lansdmann and Coun. Tom Watt.

Council meets every first and third Tuesday of the month at 5 p.m. at the municipal building in Warsaw.