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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-01-19, Page 101 10 thidetitid 2011 Bluewater council rejects new meeting structure Vanessa Brro. . Lakeshore Advance In an attempt to bring transparency to the Munidpallty of Bluewater, Coundllor- at-Large Tyler Hessel suggested council's meeting structure be shaken up. Ilessel proposed at council's Jan. 4 ses- sion that a committee -of -the -whole meet- ing replace council's regular meeting on the first Monday of each month. Such a move, Hessel argued, would allow resi- dents and delegation groups time to present their concerns to council. It would also mean councillors would not vote on matters until the second regular council meeting, which would afford them two weeks to digest the information, consult with residents and do any necessary research before voting. Votes are not held during committee -of -the -whole. it would be an opportunity for an open forum for any public, any delegation, any community group to come and talk to us about a concern they have," Hessel said. His motion, however, was defeated dur- ing Bluewater's first meeting of the New Year. Although the vote was close - five in favour, five opposed - I lessel's colleagues successfully upheld the status quo. Coun- cilor Janisse Zitnmerman (Zurich) and Deputy Mayor Paul Klopp staunchly opposed Hessel's arguments. "I've always felt that municipal council was more immediate to the public" Zim- merman said. "When you see committee - of -the -whole with its delegations, you're going to be waiting two weeks before you can OK what that person has asked you to d&' After October's municipal election, Hessel said he received 10 complaints from constituents regarding council's lack of transparency. Some residents felt they were being excluded from deliberations, he added, resulting in measures being passed too quickly and without sufficient public. consultation. Hessel argued committee -of -the -whole meetings would give Bluewater residents more say in the decision -malting process. Incumbent Councilor Kay Wise (lien - sail) said that would help right last term's wrongs. She said itnprovements in trans- parency, a hot -button issue during Octo- ber's election, should he taken seriously this tem). "I think this is something we should really look at strongly because it is a trans- parency and it gives everyone an opportu- nity to be heard: she said. "From the past administration, there has been criticism about the committees that has brought forward recommendations and no one FORM 6 Municipal Act, 2001 SALE OF LAND BY PUBLIC TENDER THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF LAMBTON SHORES Take Notice that tenders are Invited for the purchase of the land described below and will be received until 3:00 p.m. local time on 16 February 2011, at the Munldpal Office, Finance Department, 4 Ontario St. North, PO Box 340, Grand Bend, Ontario NOM 1TO The tenders will then be opened in public on the same day as soon as possible after 3:00 p.m, at the Municipal Office, Finance Department, 4 Ontario St. North, Grand Bend. Description of Lands: Roll No. 38 45 410 002 01100 0000; 7297 Arkona Rd. Ancona; PIN 43058-0121(LT) Lane Plan 7 Warwick abutting Lot 79 Plan 7; Part Lots 77-79 Plan 7 Warwick as in L510854; Lambton Shores. File 09-01 Minimum Tender Amount: $19,668.04 Tenders must be submitted In the proscribed form and must be accompanied by a deposit In the form of a money order or of a bank draft or cheque certified by a bank or trust corporation payable to the municipality and representing at least 20 per cent of the tender amount, Except as follows, the municipality makes no representation regarding the title to or any other matters relating to the land to be sold. Responsibility for ascertaining these matters rests with the potential purchasers. This sale Is governed by the Municipal Act, 2001 and the Municipal Tax Sales Rules made under that Act. The successful purchaser will be required to pay the amount tendered plus accumulated taxes and the relevant land transfer tax. The municipality has no obligation to provide vacant possession to the successful purchaser. Note: HST may be payable by successful purchaser. For further Information regarding this sale and a copy of the prescribed form of tender oontact: Wendy Jennison, Tax Collector The Corpontlon of the Municipality of Lambton Shores 4 Ontario St. North, PO Box 340 Grand Bend, Ontario NOM 1 TO (519) 238-8461 Ext. 225 • had a chance to say what they wanted to say." Committee -of -the -whole meet- ings might seem more transparent to the public, but are actually a step backward, according to Klopp, If council had approved the structural change, ratepayers would only have their voices heard during the first meeting of each month, he said. "If people came to the (regular) meeting, sure they could hear the vote, but if it doesn't go their way, they're going to be wondering, 'why can't we still talk about it?'" Klopp said. Moreover he said Hessel's argu- ment that cotnmittee-of-the- whole would take the pressure off voting "doesn't hold water" because councilors reserve the right to defer a vote if they don't feel confident they have enough information. If a deferment were made, Klopp said, members of the public would be immediately informed they had to come to the next meet - Ing to hear the vote. Klopp said the status quo is actually more transparent than I lessel's idea. like Zimmerman, he said local council's strength I' in the fact that constituents' rc ceras are heard and dealt with in a timely fashion. "People want to see the vote, which won't happen at commit- tee -of -the -whole," Klopp said. "That could cause some frustration" Council eyes Zurich arena upgrade Vanessa Brown Lakeshore Advance Zurich Arena and Community Centre's energy upgrades will hopefully receive a surge of funding from the federal government's Economic Action Plan. Bluewater Council last week agreed to apply for a funding extension under RinC (Recreational Infrastructure Canada/Ontario Recreation Pro- gratn), an arm of the federal government's infra- structure and stimulus program. "An extension would allow us the ability to work on the arena in the off season, so that we wouldn't impact any sort of play," said Brent Kintner, 131u - water's utilities superintendent. lhe lighting and energy efficient power -source upgrades will cost $148,000 $911,666 of which will come from the provincial and federal govern- ments. The remaining $49,333 would lw taken from Bluewater's facilities reserve, if approved by council. The federal government recently extended the funding deadline for infrastructure and stimulus projects from March 31 to Oct. 31. Kutner antici- pates the energy upgrades will be completed before the October deadline. The next hockey season begins in September. Council delays board appointments Vanessa Brown Lakeshore Advance The Municipality of Bluewater is still without council representa- tion to serve on its 32 committees and boards. At last week's council meeting, five councillors disagreed with some of Mayor Bill Dowson's rec- ommendations regarding com- mittee and board representation. The motion to appoint councillors was defeated, with five in support and five opposed. Committee appointments largely serve to ensure council runs smoothly; each committee official attends meetings and brings the necessary information back to councillors to make informed decisions. Deputy Mayor Paul Klopp said council could function, for the time being, without committee and board appointments, But the internal discord, he said, is disappointing. "From what 1 got to see over the last eight months, with the public getting quite involved in Bluewa- ter politics, that 1 would think lit looks bud, Klopp said. Dowson downplayed any pub- lic backlash against council, and added he's "used to controversy ovt'r appointments." lie said he will review his rec- ommendations and present a new plan to council as early as Ian. 17. County to review its composition CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 9 ONTHE JOB Empire Consulting, of l)ublin, has earned the contract to take on a new event -planning contract with the county. In pitching the contractor for the job, tourism rep Jenna Ujiye reports the company has expertise in all of the areas being consid- ered, including launching a social media campaign. iljiye also noted this year's Tbur- ism Event and Brochure Swap is set for April 28, at the Seaforth and District Community Centre. SLIMY UNVEILED The County of Huron is getting ready to take a look at its long -tern plan. In presenting the couty's first blueprint strategy, economic development officer Mike Pullen says the recommendations come at the heels of numerous consulta- tions with area agencies, busi- nesses and residents. In outlining highlights of the report, consultant Jon Linton, director of TO Management Con- sultants, says there are a number of directions the county could go, including through social media outlets and by capitalizing on its various assets through marketing campaigns that focus on the area's marine heritage, tourism opportu- nities and agribusinesses. Linton says some of the key sug- gestions of the report include a proposal for the county to hire a full-time web designer and multi- media developer as well as to extend the Business Retention ad Expansion coordinator's position. While the report's suggestions will have an impact on the coun- ty's budget, councillors agreed to review the document and further discuss it at its February commit- tee -of -the -whole session. ON BOARD Councillors welcomed Dave Pullen aboard to the county teal as the new forest conservatio officer. Planning director Scott 'lbusaw notes Pullen brings a wealth of education and experience to the position.