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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-01-09, Page 4Wednesday, January 9, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 3 Lambton Shores mayor says he is staying put Rumours of his demise are greatly exaggerated. Heather Wright SMI Agency Lambton Shores Mayor Bill Weber wants to make sure everyone knows he's not about to step down as the mayor of the community. Weber and council have been embroiled 111 controversy for months for the cancellation of the original sewage anent plant and the ongoing debate wilding a new plant. But the latest controversy of the dismissal of the (:AO last month has heightened tensions around the council table and in the community. Weber says the controversies and the clear division between council has led to people on the street questioning when he's going to resign. "People have been asking. l have been asked in Grand Bend, I have been asked by someone in Forest," he says. "I want to end one of the rumours out there," he told council during its last meeting before the Christmas break. "I've been asked if the mayor is going to resign or not whether I'm sticking around or not. 1 was elected for four years and I'm not going anywhere." Ihe packed public gallery erupted into cheers. And Weber acknowledged he is facing it lot of criticism about the most recent AA I want to end one of the rumours out there," he told council during its last meeting before the Christmas break. "I've been asked if the mayor is going to resign or not — whether I'm sticking around or not. I was elected for four years and I'm not going anywhere." --Hill Weber, L[Jn)h1011 Shores rn(1V01* controversy over the dismissal Of lohn Byrne. "I'm getting questions but 1 have not responded;" says \Veber noting council made a decision that it would not release why Byrne \vas dismissed other than council \vas going in another direction. " flay want more information about %vita( our new direction is...1 \will speak wall the voice of council town 1 know \\'hil( ('0(111CI1's \v1sheS illi' 11111 1111►51' tltle511111s ate being asked by the public and the media" Under the Lambton Shores (.1)dt' 1)1 (.olldtlrl, the Ittayl►1 Is not to voice his personal opinion but support council's decisions. "That's the Policy that 1'111 sticking 11).. .when we \will talk about that is up to council:' As if to rntderseine his point, during the questions from the public, thele were st'\'elal demands lot 1111)I1' info' ma tion ;thou! 11\1 he's dismissal. "1 want to knmv \what direction you guys are going 10 go.' says \1'aynr I{Wnett' -cd like to know what happened 10 NIt. liyrse like to know the legal fees. I'd Tike to know \oleic the dollars are coming froth. \\'e all ta\payer5 we all have a right to know ‘out's going 011:' \Veber 511\'5 the terms of lhi itt' s settle- ment ate subject to a non- disclosure ag!evinent and the Irnlniripality slay Lambton Shores mayor Bill Weber stake the legal ties associated with tett' negotiations availa- ble sometime in lanuary. 1Ie didn't l'OI11l1ll'llt on why Lynda Hillman -Replay Byrne was dismissed or what the future direction of cotulcil (night he. LAMBTON SHORES COUNCIL Beach hazard study draws mixed reception Gord Whitehead Lakeshore Advance Lambton Shores council wants more time to ponder spending more than $28,000 to help define the limits where building should be allowed on the beach area of West Ipperwash. St. Clair Conservation Authority is *g the municipality to share the of a consulting firm's study of two stretches of so-called "dynamic beaches" on which development now is prohibited by provincial policy. The issue impacts shoreline residents front Centre to West Ipperwash Roads as well as those in an area of Sarnia, the latter creating a proposed cost to that city. Patty Hayman, St. Clair's director of planning, told Lambton Shores council at its December 17 meeting that she is recommending a site specific study to determine a reduced dynamic beach limit, now defined as 45 metres from the flood hazard line. The West 1pper- wash and Sarnia's I 'Merest -Nisbet areas appear to be eligible for analysis because it appears that coastal proc- esses have been impacted by past development when there were no poli- cies and regulations. Hayman said the conservation authority is continuously receiving pro- posals for redevelopment in the dynatnic beach area "and the current policy states the propont'nt must corn plete a coastal report which examines their lot and limit of coastal processes to possibly reduce the dynamic. beach limit:"shat could cost each land owner $3,000 to $5,000 and could result in inconsistent and piecemeal reports itt contrast to the outcome of an overall study, she suggested. \Vaud 'Three Colin. Louie Scott sup- ported participation in the study, "so that individuals don't have to foot the hill." "What benefit is it to the 1 1,000 peo- ple in Lambton Shores?," asked Ward Two Colin. Doug Bonesteel. !layman didn't respond but Mayor 11111 Weber commented, "Wt' have time to get Illl)t't' information on this and whether it should be (charged) as a local improve- ment. Maybe it's an agreement in prin ciple with further discussion on funding." 'Ihe St. (:lair planning director said it is a good time to do the study because of [sake I luron's record low water level. "It will assist the landowners who are encroaching on the dynamic beach. It has serious consequences to West Ipperwash," !layman told council. Until recently, the Ipperwash area was a 'no man's land' sandwiched between the watershed jurisdictions of the St. (:lair and Ausable-Bayfield con- servation authorities. For that reason, there is a lack of background details such as 19110s' contour Wrapping wren the lake level \vats high. lite St. (:lair planner's presentation included photographs of buildings destroyed by storms such as one in Match, P173, Alter the dynastic beach discussion will Hay- man. l.alnbton Shores council voted, \\'itlout debate, to accept ilei conservation autitot ity s pro posed '2013 budget of nearly $5.0 million which includes a levy increase of $1.063.0( to 529,001.00 0111,81111)ton Shotes ratepayer's. Treasurer Janet Ferguson noted the proposed dynamic beach study cost is 1101 inc 11(1191 in that budget. St. (:lair's special levy for operation and inspection of the Inti Dodge ('onseroation Area at forest is being raised by 5400.011 to a total of $1,000.00 for this year. Lambton Shore's is also on the (took for a 5'2,0.1 5.0(1 share oldie projected 562,000 cost of 31) slapping the St. (lair watershed. 29-4919 1,ANIl;'l COUNTRY 4 ON ti l l O Il E S ll l';' I' l ll lt; N 11i: N' l' OR St 1 SII)ISI1) l NH'S ItiTI':I) ‘I0'111':N'l' LIVING ‘1,1. IN('I.l�til�:1':Il.k1-1 1'.kRI INC .11' .'1)35O:OO-1'.N1. 1111 \1.( 01111lt'1 \1,iil ►rt'sl:II('5.1.0111 01' 1.011' 1111)('.(►(inl