HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-11-16, Page 4Wednesday, November 16, 2011 • Goderich Signal -Star 3
stice to consider county council's composition
Seth
DY
or Court Justice Kelly -Anne
is expected to rule this week
Eer Huron County Council has
number.
faring held at the Huron County
lin Goderich Nov. 9, Justice
heard lawyers speak against
pport of an earlier county rul-
rnaintained county council's
lion at 20 councillors though a
my bylaw states each member
it ity's population should rule
osIdon.
resenting five municipalities
fight the complaint forward,
h- based lawyer Glen Carey
a Claus is
ing to town
argues the 1999 bylaw is clear in
that each municipality's represen-
tation on council is allotted in
accordance with population incre-
ments of 4,000. Carey says at issue
is the interpretation of one section
of the Municipal Act, which set out
The guidelines for the lower tiers to
follow.
Specifically, says Carey, while
the county maintained the status
quo with 20 county councillors
since a triple majority vote (a bylaw
approved by county council must
then be passed by the majority of
lower -tier councils, representing
the majority of electors) was not
held allowing for a decrease in
county seats, the fact is that vote
was not necessary. In essence, says
Carey, it defies sense that the bylaw
was meant to be "four years'
behind."
Carey says the five municipali-
ties launching the complaint -
Goderich, Bluewater, Ashfield Col-
borne Wawanosh,
Morris-Turnberry and Howick -
argue that Central Huron, South
Huron, North Huron and Huron
East each have one representative
too many at the county table since
they do not have the requisite pop-
ulations to justify the representa-
tion. He suggests the composition
should drop from 20 to either 16 or
18, depending on the population
data used.
Carey's asked the court to
declare the 1999 bylaw valid and
quash the county's bylaw 1:2011,
known as the strildng bylaw.
"If No. 1 is granted, No. 2 must
falI," says Carey.
Greg Stewart, the county's coun-
sel, says while the genesis of the
1999 bylaw is clear, there is also a
set process in place that must be
followed in order for a change in
county composition to occur Stew-
art says that a triple majority vote
on a possible change to the com-
position should have been held a
full year before the election. Since
it was not, a change in county
council's composition is invalid.
"The wording is extremely
important: says Stewart, noting
the Municipal Acts spells out what
must occur before the county
council's composition change.
Also among the requirements,
notes Stewart, are at least one pub-
lic meeting and proper public
notice.
"You have to look at the words in
the statute and the words are clear,
he says.
Stewart further asked the court
to rule bylaw 1:2001 as valid and
that county council should be
entrusted to handle its composi-
tion for the next term.
` Gorman said she would review
the submissions and report back
next week.
is
king -Star
iare will be alive with the sights
is of the season as Santa arrives
is annual Santa Claus Parade
ovember 19.
'le it may not be The Square
once knew, it will be decorated
'conditions allow and the parade
I its way around the downtown
i the usual anticipation and
ristmas Is, afterall, that special
In all of us.
tan 40 entries were committed
ade before the deadline and the
lould grow to 50 by parade time.
the royal Canadian Legion
)9 Colour guard will be part of
edings as well as the Seaforth
hing Band and the Owen Sound
rlettes.
tries will marshal in the Elgin
nd Wellington Street area and
e will proceed on West Street to
7e and around to South Street
rill make its way to the condu-
in Avenue.
&ruling to attend the festivities
.t aware that not all of the street
operational on The Square and
bple have mobility issues, they
to park off the downtown area
o the Square.
be blocking off the Inner spies
uare and people will have to
,r that we have also lost some
he Square with the placement
and cement barriers,t Spedal
ordinator Wanda Keith said. lif
not have mobility issues, we are
am to park off Square and walk
We want this to be a safe event
a community event.t
rade begins at approximately
right after the Festival of Lights
'ate parts of Courthouse Park
luare in seasonal fin&
1
u0DLI
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-Full colour photos throughout
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