A policy focusing on how resident inquiries or complaints are received and addressed by Lacombe City Council was updated last night at the City Council meeting.

While a policy has been in place since 2009, some further clarification was needed to formalize the process moving forward.

It's all part of an effort to provide consistency about how public inquiries are made to elected officials, and to streamline it all into one formal process.

“The City of Lacombe is committed to ensuring that any inquiry or complaint regarding civic affairs is given consideration and is dealt with in a fair, open and timely manner,” said Mayor Steve Christie. “A priority of Council is to provide the public with responses to any questions that have been presented directly to us.”

The Citizen Request and Response Policy outlines the City's process regarding requests raised by the public addressed to council, regarding municipal employees, activities, programs, services, and facilities.

The policy does exclude questions or inquiries about the Lacombe Police Service and Peace Officers.

CAO Dion Pollard says they have added a provision around how the personal information of an individual writing to Council will be used.

"What will be included, including possibly their name, there were concerns that people that were submitting enquiries, were unknown that there name would be included on the council/public agenda, so that's been highlighted.”

Pollard goes on to say that every question, complaint, or inquiry is treated in a serious manner and also takes into account the protection of personal information of employees.

He also says any citizen who submits an inquiry will receive a written response; however, the City has the right to reject complaints they deem to be frivolous or vexatious.

That means letters the City deems to be with malicious intent, or is part of a pattern of conduct by the person writing the letter that amounts to abuse of the Formal Citizen Request and Response Policy will be rejected.