Residents wishing a human being would answer the phone at the Mapleton Township office should not hold their breath.
Councillor Neil Driscoll recently asked if it was possible to improve the municipality’s phone system and have a person answering at the other end of the line instead of a machine. But Clerk Patty Sinnamon replied that would be “almost impossible” with the number of calls that come into the administration office.
She explained the township changed over around 2004 to the current automated machine, which allows the caller then to punch in the extension of the staff member they are seeking.
The move was made due to the large volume of calls, and to revert to the old system would require a lot more staff time, Sinnamon said.
Mayor Bruce Whale asked staff to bring back a report on the number of calls received at the office so council could discuss the matter later.
