Dear Editor:
This was the first public hearing in Summerland, to my knowledge, where the general public who arrived 15 minutes before the meeting start time came against enforced locked doors.
I would have thought general courtesy would have been to adjourn this meeting and find suitable space to accommodate all interested public.
Is this not what the public hearing process is all about; to hear all the different points of view and let the citizens have a voice?
I counted 67 people outside the locked doors before the meeting time and then still people came and other frustrated people left.
As people exited the meeting, they let in others to the same proportion.
There were even town councillors, head table people, who were out there until the door was unlocked to let them in.
They were well aware of the situation outside.
I think it would be proper now to hold another public hearing.
Or, after a 35-minute wait outside and hearing different opinions and concerns against the land swap, the mayor and most councillors should abandon their pursuit.
Jim Hunt
Summerland
