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BY SANDRA BOLAN sbolan@yrmg.com Even before the econ- omy took a nose dive, Whitchurch-Stouffville council wasthtiftywith its public relations spending as they handed in receipts for just over half of the $31,000 allotted to it in Last year, each council~ lor was allowed to spend $2,500 on newsletters to their constituents, how- ever only Ken Ferdinands ($1,008.19) and Phil Ban- non ($2,494.14) opted to distribute them. “I know that I am not capturing enough audi- ence through e-mails and community meetings," said Councillor Bannon, who noted many of his ward’s residents actually have Newmarket,Durham Region and Mount Albert postal addresses ' “My main goal is to establish an open line of interactive communica- tion with residents I am making every possible efiort to communicate the message to them. If they choose not to read the information or attend meetings, or reply to e- mails, or provide me with an e-mail address, that is their decision, but it does not alter my goal to at least provide the information to them," he said. For Councillor Susanne Hilton, providing her con- stituents with newsletters is something she has done in the past, however 2008 and 2009 have been busy for her. OPBJ DOOR POLICY “The newsletters, in my mind are very impor- tant," Ms Hilton said. “In my case, it’s not that I’ve chosen not to it’s finding the time to get it out.” “In almost 20 years in politics, I've never sent out a newsletter,” said Mayor Wayne Emmerson. However, while coun- cil is on March break, Ms Hilton is hoping to get a newsletter out. On the other hand, some councillors and even the mayor opt to forego the newsletter route. “I respond back to mesâ€" sages left on my home phone or my town exten- sion. We seem to be bom- barded with -papers and “I'm always accessible; my door's always open.” Too busy, not keen on distribution flyers (and) l feel another document would just be lost in the shuflle,” said (humillorRichard Bartley. “I am very active in the community and very approachable. People have no problem calling me day and night with their issues," he added. “I try to attend as many functions within the town, as well as outside of town, where I am available to speak to constituents should they have any con- cems” When it came to attending functions on behalf of the municipal- ity, Mr. Bartley led the way for councillors by shaking $2,540 worth of hands At the other end of the spec- trum. Councillor Rob Har- grave spent the least on event tickets â€" $830. MI. Emmerson was out and about the most, which cost the town $3,948 in Last year was the first time the mayor and coun- cil had their public rela- tions budget and expensâ€" es broken out in the trea- surer’s annual statement of remuneration and expenses report. “After the .2007 report was tabled, council expressed their concerns because it wasn’t shown what councillors spent on communications,” said Marc Pourvahidi, the town’s director of finance and treasurer. In 2007, council passed a bylaw that gave the mayor a $3,000 pay raise, which took his salary from $35,000 in 2007 to $38,000 in 2008. ' Salaries for council- lors went from $23,000 in 2007 to $25,000 in 2008. When the cost of living allowed to spend $2,500 on newsletters to their cbnstituents; however only Ken Ferdinands ($1,008.19) and Phil Bannon ($2,494.14) opted to distribute them. Last year, each councillor was