Lakeshore Advance, 2012-11-14, Page 114 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, November 30, 2011
County Council drops by four seats Wind debate
Cheryl Heath
And then there Wert' 16.
'thanks to a ruling handed down
by Kelly -Ann Gorman, an Ontario
Superior Court Justice, Huron
County's Council composition for
the remainder of the terns will
shrink to 16 from the previous
20 -seat setting.
'that decision crone at the heels
of an appeal from five county
municipalities Goderich, Blue -
water, Morris'1'urnberry, 1lowick
and Ashfield Colborne 4Vawanosh
that argued four municipalities
North Huron, Central Huron,
South Huron and Huron East
maintained representation though
they crit not have the requisite
populations to justify the seats in
accordance to a 1999 bylaw
that based representation to
population.
The ruling, which means the
four municipalities in question
lose the seats in contention
effective immediately, came as a
surprise to Central l luron Mayor
}allies Ginn who will see his
counterpart, Brian Barnin, end
an active year as a county
representative.
Ginn, who first heard the news
care of county CAO Larry Adams
via e-mail late last weekend, says it
is his hope that the original 1999
bylaw that brought about the
whole controversy could be
repealed.
"I don't have difficulty under-
standing the ruling .., 1 have
difficulty understanding why the
municipalities brought it forward
in the first place," says Ginn. "I am
disappointed that they pursued it
... I think they should've with-
drawn it before it went to the
judge."
(aim notes he is also surprised
by the immediacy (lithe ruling.
"I thought any change would
require some time" says Ginn, who
says a key question about the
decision is what it means to the
last 12 months of bylaws passed by
the current council.
"Are they valid'?" asks Ginn,
adding that there is a possibility
that solve of the ha" "controller
sial" rulings could be appealed
depending on the votes by county
council. Ginn says the voters' lists,
as kept by the Municipal Property
Assessment Corporation (MPA(:),
continue to be a hone of cornett
tion as Central Iluron continues to
maintain that the municipality's
population stands at least the 8,00(1
necessary to justify a third rep at
the county level according to the
1999 bylaw that was upheld by the
justice's ruling,
It is because of that contention,
adds Ginn, that he would prefer to
see county council's representa •
tion based on assessment rather
than population.
"'lo ale, I think we scrap the 1999
bylaw ,.. I think there is lots of
options ... base it on assessment
rather than voters' list.'
Ginn argues the county would
he better served if the representa-
tion was weighted like it is as the
Ausahle Bayfield Conservation
Authority, where he serves as
board chairman.
"It's the people paying the taxes
111111 need to be represented," says
Ginn. "1 can't see it working 00
population."
On the subject of losing 11 repre-
sentative, Ginn says the change is
unfortunate given Mania has
been an active and Interested
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member of council.
"I do think (:our. Barnim was a
very good county councillor ... it's
a little disappointing when you see
some councillors sitting there and
not saying anything."
10 a prepared statement, Itarrlin
said an overhaul to county council
seems necessary.
"I will continue to advocate for
the ratepayers of this county. I
believe the composition of county
council and how they are elected
could use an overhaul, 1 will he
advocating for at Regional Council
where ars in the next municipal
election the ballot could include
County Council representation
that \\(1tlld be completely separate
of the lower tier municipal election
although held in conjunction with
the lower -tier election."
Iluron bast Coun. Bill Station,
who is 11150 losing his seal and was
actually on the council 111111 passed
the bylaw In question, says he, too,
questions MPAC's data.
"'the voter's list was incorrect in
2008 or 20111 ,,,tllilt many people
didn't disappear," he says of the
700 fewer people in II0r01n East
according to the latest MPA(:
(11(011,
Like Ginn, Sielnon is frustrated
by the fact his municipality covers
40 per cent of the costs for county
council but does not have the
equivalent representation because
of how the system works according
to voter's lists.
Ironically, says Sienion, small
places get a stronger voice.
"1lowick is getting rewarded for
not amalgamating," he says.
Go(ferich Mayor Deb Shewfelt
says the ruling was an obvious
one.
"I'm not surprised," he says, "If it
HURON PERTH
ASSOC;IA1ION
01 131.:/11. 1 0l1S"
WWW.HPAR.CA
Your source of information on Open Houses and
Real Estate Information in Huron/Perth
(the 1999 bylaw) worked since
1998, I find it strange that in the
election of 201 I it doesn't work.'
Shewtelt is an outspoken advo-
cate for a smaller county council.
le Motes that Bruce County, which
has both a bigger budget and
larger assessment, 1)181)atges to
perform its duties well with eight
people at the table.
11e adds that the matter is now
resolved and notes that while some
of the impacted ('ottn('illors took
the appeal personally, the purpose
of it was to ensure that the issue
was dealt with justly.
Ashfield Colborne 1Vawanosh
Itl'l'VV Bell Valli 1)lep1'llhl'ek says
a111 appeal to a1 jt1(Ige seemed Ill1'
tssatl•y after the four municipalities
at issue voted Blown a request to
send the question on the validity of
Bylaw 28 at a county council
session earlier this year.
"ill Ivy opinion, the judger deci-
sion was final," says Van
1)fepenbeek, saying that in the
case of Central Iluron, as an exam-
ple, he wouldn't have been
opposed to a third seat if the vot-
er's list count was oft' by a (cozen or
so people "hut it's out 800 in
Central Huron so it's a huge
discrepancy;'
Van 1)iepenbeek adds the
municipality would have seen the
confirmed voter's list before the
election and should've been aware
what the numbers were.
Other councillors that are set to
lose their seats at the county level
are Dave Mach of North Huron
and David larayne of South Huron.
Statistics Canada conducted a
Census earlier this year. Popula-
tion counts from that project are
slated to he released on Feb. 8,
2012,
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CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 10
the end of the contract, you donc
need it anymore, other than the
farmers or the municipality suing
you, how do we guarantee you do
what you say you're going to do,,"
CA() recruitment
Bluewater council voted to hire
municipal consultant Nigel !tell
chamber to recruit its next chief
administrative officer.
Former (:AO Lori 1Volfe announced
her resignation two weeks ago.
Bellchallnher has estimated his
costs would be between $12,000 till
$18,000, which includes, among
other preparation work, narrowing;
applicants down t0 11 8110111ikt; lead
ing the interview process with conn
ell; and assisting council In selecting;
hs first choice.
Retaining a consultant to assist in
the recruitment of a new (:AO is in
accordance with the municipal hit
ing policy, a report from Wolfe said.
Council appointed mayor Bill
Dowson, deputy mayor Paul Klopp,
Councillor -at -large 'Tyler 1lessel,
Stanley West Cowl. George Irvin and
1'-iensall Coun, Kay Wise to the hiring;
committee, which will work with
Bellchamber to shortlist applicants
and bring them before all councillors
to be interviewed.
Lakeshore sewer project
referendum
Bluewater councillors ha\ e
committed to holding a referendum
on the lakeshore sewage collection
project when government funding
becomes available.
Because the project is currently ton
costly for residents, engineering
consultants 11111 Boussey and Janet
Smolders have advised council not to
start bringing sewers up 1 lighway
until significant government funding;
becomes available.
During councll's Nov. 21 meet
deputy mayor Paul Klopp argued that
affected Hay West residents should
still have a say even if grants come
upe said a report on the logistics of
a plebiscite was supposed to come
from staff some time ago. Since it
hasn't, he said he wanted his motion
"on the record"
It passed unanimously.
hule
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