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Petitions

Community Engagement through Petitions:

The Town encourages community involvement by allowing residents to submit petitions to Town Council. These petitions help inform decisions and bring attention to community concerns.

Program Policy: Municipal Petition Policy

Petition Template

Understanding Petitions:

  • What is a Petition?
    • A formal written request asking the Council to consider a specific action.
  • Petition Requirements:
    • Clearly state your request, ensuring it's respectful and within Council’s authority.
    • Avoid frivolous, discriminatory, or critical content.
    • Use clear, readable type or print (no pencil allowed).
    • Include the petition’s request at the top of each page, with pages numbered.
    • Designate a point of contact or spokesperson.
    • Provide printed names, addresses, and original signatures directly on the document. Electronic petitions must include names, addresses, and valid email addresses.
    • Include a statement on each page indicating that the petition is a public document and that the information may be accessible to the public on the Town's website.
  • Submitting Petitions:
    • Using the Template: Whenever possible, use the provided petition template/form.
    • How to Submit:
      • Mail or deliver paper petitions with original signatures to the Clerk at Town Hall.
      • Email electronic petitions to townhall@goderich.ca.
  • After Submission:
    • Review Process: The Clerk reviews petitions to ensure they meet all requirements.
    • Council Meeting: Qualifying petitions are added to the agenda for the next Council meeting, where the Council will decide whether to accept them.
    • Non-Compliance: Petitions that don't meet guidelines won't be accepted.
  • Presenting a Petition:
    • Indicate if you wish to present the petition verbally when submitting.
    • The designated spokesperson may speak for up to 10 minutes (not including Q&A).
    • Only the petition itself can be presented—no additional materials are permitted.

Final Notes

Council’s decisions on petitions are final and cannot be appealed. All petitions are kept according to the Town's Records Retention Schedule. For more information, refer to the Petition Policy Template.