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7 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,M arch 5,2020 theifp.ca Willow Park Ecology Centre wants to hear from you. As part of its strategic planning process, the nonprofit centre in Norval is conducting a survey to find out what local residents would like to see happening there, and what outdoor opportunities they would add for people of all ages. To provide feedback, visit wil- lowparkecology.org and click on the survey link. Willow Park is heading into its 22nd year of pro- viding outdoor educational expe- riences and active engagement in nature conservation. "The ecology centre's diverse programs provide a way of work- ing with the community for the upkeep and evolution of a unique nature park within the Town of Halton Hills public park system," said executive director Tunde Ot- to. Local residents who would like to be more involved in con- servation and nature education planning are invited to apply to join WPEC's board of directors. For details and to apply, visit the website's volunteer page. CONTRIBUTED HAVE YOUR SAY ON FUTURE OF NORVAL NATURE CENTRE Willow Park Ecology Centre executive director Tunde Otto. Torstar file photo SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AT THEIFP.CA So I have a concern about something happening in my neighbourhood. Who's in charge of making decisions around here anyways? In Halton Hills, there are two levels of government that make local decisions -- Halton Hills Council and Halton Regional Council. So it depends what your issue is. The region takes care of weekly garbage pick up, water/ sewer services and the like. The rest is largely looked after by town council. OK, I'm worried about the plans to build new houses just down the street from me and how it will affect traffic. I think we need speed bumps or some- thing. Who should I talk to? You can start by talking to your local councillor. Halton Hills is divided into four wards, each represented by two local councillors and one regional councillor. Once you determine which ward your address falls under, you can reach out to the appropriate person. A ward map and all of the councillors' contact details can be found on the town's website, haltonhills.ca. Now, the issue I discussed with my councillor is on the agenda at a council meeting. Can I attend to tell the rest of council how I feel too? Yes, you can address council- lors at a committee or council session, but you need to register as a delegate first. This can be done via an online form at halton- hills.ca, or by contacting the clerk's division at 905-873-2600, ext. 2333 or 2350. You'll be allowed to speak for 10 minutes at a com- mittee meeting and five minutes at council, so it's important to plan out what you want to say ahead of time. What if there's another issue I want to address with council that isn't on the agenda? Can I just talk about it anyways? No, but you can submit a re- quest to the town clerk, who will review it and refer the matter along to the appropriate depart- ment at Town Hall. If it's decided that a report on the issue is war- ranted at a future council ses- sion, town staff will let you know the date of the meeting so that you can register as a delegation. In the meantime, you can also discuss the issue with your coun- cillor. I'd like to pay more attention to the decisions that are being made by council. Where do I be- gin? Council meets at least once per month, with committee meet- ings being held in between. You're welcome to attend the meetings incouncil chambers at Town Hall and observe. If you can't make it in person, you can catch the live stream of the meet- ings online, where the videos are also archived for future viewing. Meeting schedules, videos and agendas that outline the matters that will be addressed can be found under the Council and Committees section at haltonhill- s.ca. COUNCIL HOW DO I MAKE MY VOICE HEARD AT TOWN HALL? MELANIE HENNESSEY mhennessey@metroland.com Here's how to have your concerns addressed through the municipal government system. Torstar file photo Start planning your dream vacation with hand-picked travel deals and inspiration just for Canadians Visit