Engaging with citizens and improving communications between city council, staff and residents is a top priority for Robert Ritz, an architect running for mayor of Stratford.
“I have always been a community at large guy and as an architect, when you design a building, you think about the community at large because your building is going to have impact on the community.”
In an interview at his Ontario Street office, Ritz said he has presented to council numerous times, representing clients and helping them get approvals for projects that include homes and businesses.
Through his work, Ritz has seen first-hand how council and city staff communicate and make decisions.
“The way the system is set-up, council has staff look after it, you get a report and recommendations from staff, but what about the impact on citizens at large?”
Ritz said engagement with clients is a big deal as an architect, to ensure plans are going the way the customer expects. Council discussion should include more interaction with community, which could lead to further options to consider, he said.
One way to increase and improve engagement, Ritz suggested, is to move to Ward representation – after election. While the mayor and council seats would remain at-large for the election, two councillors could represent a part of the city after being elected. Questions and concerns from citizens living in that Ward can be directed to them, and then onto city staff, if required, he said. Councillors can follow-up and follow along, even visit the citizen, if need be, he added.
It is not currently clear which councillor to call if you have an issue, Ritz said.
Ritz would also like to see two councillors attend a weekly farmer’s market to interact with citizens and let them know they can help out – encouraging dialogue.
Born in Stratford, Ritz registered as an architect in 1985 and has worked on numerous projects in the community for clients, including new home builds on Galt Road and Vivian Street and condo projects, including the units above The Livery Yard in the downtown core, and a large condo project on the beach in Grand Bend.
It is a four-way race now for mayor, with businessman Larry McCabe and current city councillors Martin Ritsma and Kathy Vassilakos also running.
In an earlier statement sent to media, Ritz said his real-world experience has focused his deep concern about the current lack of transparency at city council and the excessive use of closed meetings that deprive citizens of their right to know and their right to participate and engage in decision-making.
“Stratford city council has had the misfortune to be designated the most secretive in all of Canada, particularly because of the Xinyi glass factory controversy. I respectfully believe that Stratford needs a change in leadership to restore a culture of openness to our local government.”
“Ending the secrecy is one of the primary reasons that I am asking for the votes of my fellow citizens.”
If elected, Ritz said he would like to review the city’s procedural bylaws. With several members of council not returning, there will be new faces, so it’s a good time to review and fix, if necessary, the way council has been doing things, he said.
Ritz said he has wanted to run for mayor since he first presented to council in 1983. After participating in more than 100 Stratford council and committee meetings since then, representing clients or supporting citizens, he is now getting that chance.
“I wouldn’t run if I didn’t think I could win.”
