A new Kingsville councilor believes the town can improve the way meetings are made available to the public.
Kimberly DeYong says prior to getting elected, she live streamed a number of council meetings via Facebook receiving as many as 3,000 views on the videos.
DeYong says residents are showing an appetite for viewing the meetings online and the town should jump at the opportunity.
She realized there was a need after one particular meeting.
"I live streamed a meeting that council held about cannabis greenhouse growing. It was a meeting that was attended by so many people they couldn't fit in the room. So I heard from people afterwards how grateful they were that I had streamed it. They were happy to be able to watch it because they couldn't fit in there," she says.
She says, while on the campaign trail, residents were asking for more accessibility. She says residents want some accountability and they want to know how decisions are made.
"By recording our meetings, we not only provide instant information, but it also a record," she says. "If you want to look back in time at what a member said specifically or how a council decision was made, even if it took place a year ago or six months ago, by having those meetings available you'd be able to do so."
DeYong has asked town administration to put together a report on the cost of streaming council meetings and what methods other municipalities are using.
The report will likely come back to council in the new year.