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The founder of the Facebook group Maple Ridge Council Watch will now watch firsthand how the city works.
Katherine Wagner, a former school board trustee, has been named chair of the citizen’s representatives working group, which will bring forward ideas to the mayor’s open government task force.
The task force was formed early this year to increase accountability, transparency and the public’s understanding of city hall.
Wagner was on the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school board for three terms, from 1996 to 2005.
She’s also an organizer with the Golden Ears Writers Group and moderates the content on Maple Ridge Council Watch, a group that now has 793 members.
“Transparency and accountability is an essential component of an effective, democratic government, and I am thrilled our new council has chosen to address this important issue early in its mandate,” said Wagner said in a news release from the office of Mayor Nicole Read.
“I look forward to being part of this project to ensure that Maple Ridge is a leader in community engagement and collaboration,” Wagner said.
Council hears an update on the task force’s progress this month.
The city is still looking for other members of the public to join the citizen’s representatives working group.
• If interested, send a letter and a resume to Kelly Swift, general manager: community development, parks and recreation services by e-mail to kswift@mapleridge.ca.