HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-11-13, Page 5Wednesday, November 13, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 5
opinion
www.lakeshoreadvance.com
letters to the editor
Going into year four
Dear editor:
One year ago 1 submitted a letter to the editor
asking why some municipal councils across Can-
ada including the Council of Lambton Shores were
failing their communities so badly. What I have
observed in the last year is that not hutch has
improved. Although the majority of Lambton
Shore's Councillors professes their desire to pro-
vide good governance it still seems to be more
focused on partisan concerns rather than the con-
cerns of the entirety of interests in Lambton
Shores. Having hamstrung the Mayor it seems as if
the majority is planning to continue in this vein for
at least another year. Is it too Hutch to hope for a
change in this regressive and clumsy governance?
Their mandate will end in less than one year and
voters will have the opportunity to correct this
problem.
Although at the time of writing this letter the
council meeting of November 7,2013 has not yet
been held, I wish to use this meeting's agenda to
illustrate my point The agenda is available to
Lambton Shores residents on their web site.
The agenda is indicative of the underlying dys-
function of the Council. Among other issues the
Council intends to deal with: staff recommenda-
tions about the Official Plan, Port Franks Ice Man-
agement policy, the Deputy Mayor's motion to
claw back sewage capacity from the Pinery, a
potential plan to purchase dredging equipment,
and the Economic Development Committee's
minutes and recommendations.
I would like to point out that the change that
allows staff recommendations, into the minutes. It
is refreshing. Why the recommendations disap-
peared from the agenda is mystifying. It was
always a long-standing practice of the meetings
that made use of past reports and the considerable
expertise of an extremely capable staff. It lays out
the recommendations of the staff for councillors'
consideration. It must be the new CAO's idea.
Kudos Sid. This streamlines and shortens the
meetings and promises further improvement in
the future. Lets hope this CAO doesn't get thrown
nder a bus, as did the last one, but it remains to
seen if he will be allowed to do his job.
The issue of the Port Franks Ice Management
policy seems indicative of the dysfunction of the
council. Does it not seem that ignoring past
reports, ignoring expert advice, wasting time,
squandering tax dollars on repetitive reports
(ABCA and staff) and pandering to special inter-
ests are more important than common sense?
How much did these studies cost? Why were some
council members seemingly unaware of the con-
tents of previous reports so readily available in the
public record?
The request for a report on purchasing dredging
equipment initiated by the Deputy Mayor seems
like another ludicrous example of ignoring expert
advice, of ignoring past reports, of wasting time
and talent and squandering scarce resources
(taxes). Staff again and again has recommended
against purchasing dredging equipment because
it will never pay for itself.
Council is moving on with the mini sewage
treatment plant that seems to do little for Lambton
Shores. It gives little additional capacity, and
removes absolutely no one frotn septic tanks. It
will cost a lot of money and future expansion will
probably be required. 'Ihe money spent from 2004
onward on the related Wastewater Treatment
master Plan, environmental assessment, tender
documents for the previous plan and the Goose -
marsh forcemain from the Pinery is money that
seems to have been squandered. 'Ihe MNR part-
nered with Lambton Shores in the construction of
the Pinery Forcemain. This was designed to take
sewage from the Pinery to the lagoons and also
service Southbend Estates in the future. It was also
intended to accommodate any future sewer
expansion in Zones 3 and 4 (if or when needed) as
infrastructure money became available. Is this
why there is a move afoot to take back capacity
given to others by agreement? Why does the Dep-
uty Mayor need more capacity when the new S'I'1'
was supposed to take care of any new growth?
Will the MNR ask for its money back when the
allocated capacity is taken back? If the MNR asks
for future capacity, who will pay to provide it? Will
it be Lambton Shores' sewer users? 1las anyone
thought that far ahead?
A draft Official Plan was ready for approval more
than three years ago. The municipality still does
not have an approved Official Pian. Will features
such as environmental protection, a focus on the
development of settlement areas, and restrictions
on new development unless it is on full municipal
services (water, sewers) consistent with the
Ontario Provincial Policy Statement? Will the
timetable for the adoption of an Official Plan be
met or will the onset of the lame duck period way-
lay its adoption?
I'm sure there are a lot of good people working
hard on the Economic Development Committee,
but why, in three years has no strategic plan been
created? Why has the Council just referred "way
finding signage" to the Economic Development
Committee? It was recommended in 2008? Why is
staff not invited to provide expertise to the E1)C?
Once again previous work by Council is ignored,
expertise is ignored and time has been and con-
tinues to be wasted to say nothing of taxpayers'
dollars. Will we see a strategic plan before the lame
duck mentality sets in?
It is one year to the next municipal election. Will
the majority councillors continue to operate in the
same manner as they have for the last three years?
What will they claim they have accomplished in
their time in office that has genuinely moved the
municipality forward? The voters of Lambton
Shores should sharply and critically evaluate this
group's method of operation before voting in the
next election. Lambton Shores needs candidates
that place the long-term best interests of the com-
munity before partisan interests. Vote for candi-
dates that are willing to put in hard work. Vote for
candidates who understand the function of a
councillor on a municipal council. Vote for candi-
dates who understand the value and contributions
of their staff. Vote for the type of candidates who
had, for ten years after amalgamation, made
Lambton Shores a great place to live.
Respectfully Yours
Eric Shafer
.Open. Letter to Mr. Gord Potts,
Northland Power Inc.
After reading your `Grand Bend
Wind Farm Community News' that
was featured on the back page of the
Lakeshore Advance on November 6,
2013, I have concerns about the
ikvaliclity of some of your statements.
Regarding the references to the
(improvement in Ontario's air quality
An recent years and the reduction in
smog alert days, you state that the
two major contributing factors for
these accomplishments "include the
province's move to shut down all
coal power plants, coupled with a
drive to promote renewable energy
sources, including wind."
Recent Ministry of the Environ-
ment's reports on air quality contain
no reference to the reduction in
Ontario's coal fired power stations or
wind and solar initiatives having
anything to do with air quality
improvements. Our air quality is
dictated mainly by pollutants from
south of the border plus transporta-
tion, local industry and residential
sources. The credit. for these
improvements has to lie with
unproved emission standards for
vehicles, reduced manufacturing
activity especially in the Hamilton
area and conservation, not what you
suggest.
Your references to the reduction
in smog alert days is misleading.
Smog is caused mainly by ground
level ozone which is at its worst on
the hot humid sunny days of sum-
mer. Statistics from the'Independ-
ent Electricity System Operators'
website indicate that historically we
get next to nothing from wind farms
in these conditions.
I realize that you are just trying to
sell the Grand Bend Wind Farm to
the local population but please stop
trying to link the expansion of wind
energy as a requirement for closing
coal plants. We can close every coal
plant in Ontario quite nicely without
any contribution from wind tur-
bines. In reality your turbines do lit-
tle if anything for our air quality.
Regards,
Roy Merkley
Grand Bend, Ontario
merlgOhay.net
An opportunity to remember the brave men
and women who protect our freedom
Every Remembrance Day, residents of Lampton -Kent -Middlesex take time
to honour and pay tribute to those who fought for the liberation of millions
around the world and died for our freedom.
From Vimy (Ridge in WWI, to Ancona, Dieppe and luno Beach in 1VWI1,
defending Seoul during the Korean War to restoring stability in Bosnia, and
from Rwanda to Kandahar - - during the world's darkest hours -- Canadians
answered the call.
Remembrance Day gives us an opportunity to remember those who have
worn our country's uniform and have given the ultimate sacrifice in defence
of Canadian values. Their sacrifice for Canada is something that we must
never take for granted. The debt we owe is immeasurable..
During the time-honoured two minutes of silence, Ontario residents will
pause to remember the brave soldiers, sailors, air men and women who gave
their lives in the service Of Canada and our values. We remember their sacri-
fices and cherish the country they made possible.
I encourage each one of you to take a moment to remember our veterans'
bravery, their determination and conviction that has afforded us the peace
and prosperity we enjoy today.
I lere in Lambton- Kent -Middlesex residents will gather for annual Remem-
brance? Day services and pay their respects at more than 25 cenotaphs
throughout our riding.
On behalf of the residents of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex and of the Ontario
government, 1 want to express my deepest gratitude to all of the men and
women who have bravely served in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Lest we forget.
MPP Monte McNaughton