A civic leader could use this to make notes (5)

'make notes' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both related to communication as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps there's a link between them I don't understand?

'a civic leader could use this' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
an anagram of 'this' is 'hits' which is located in the answer.
A single letter 'c' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

'to' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?