Guergis says: Dowdall should shoulder some blame for NVCA

Letter to Innisfil Scope August 11 2010
This letter is in response to a story regarding the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority and comments made by the Township of Essa deputy mayor Terry Dowdall.
It was not right for Dowdall to blame other members of council for his lack of action or ability to inform council of sweeping regulatory mapping adopted in 2005 or 20006. This was during Dowdall’s time as an Essa representative on the NVCA board. This mapping has affected 50 per cent of Baxter and 70 per cent of Angus. A recent letter to the editor was was published in another newspaper, from a Baxter resident who unfortunately had a house fire and was told he was now in a regulated area when he attempted to rebuild. So after paying the township, he had to pay the NVCA also. I know this man’s property and he will never flood and is nowhere near the river.
On May 19th, Angus candidate Archie Duckworth made a deputation to Essa council, which was presided over by Dowdall. Duckworth clearly had questions about how NVCA representatives let this slip, and why they did not bring this large restrictive territorial expansion to council back in 2005- 2006, when they had access to the information. Council would not find out about the new mapping until 2008. Council did receive a report from a temporary staff member in 2006, stating this could have negative effects in the community. At that time, Ward 3 councillor Rick Newlove and I voiced our concerns. We instructed the planner to go back to the NVCA and renegotiate, and that a public meeting be called to inform those property owners affected. appears staff did neither. Council, even with that report, never saw the mapping.
Dowdall knows the question is not about events in 2007, and The Scope reporter Richard Blanchard was present at Duckworth’s presentation. Did Blanchard hear any question regarding fill regulations from 2007?
I met Duckworth a couple of months ago when he started attending council meetings. He watched and listened, and then went and investigated, reviewing minutes from Essa council and NVCA board meetings. It was at that time when Duckworth approached me and other council members with minutes and motions relating to this whole mess. And still he waits for an answer, and I think it is simple — if Dowdall and Essa’s other representative missed seeing this important information in their agendas, then just say it. If on the other hand, they were not provided the new regulations with mapping in their agendas, the NVCA has some questions to answer. And the public has the right to ask, as this will effect hundreds of landowners.
I was dismayed upon return from vacation that the township had solicited a legal opinion and paid for a mailing to respond to a flyer mailed by Duckworth.
I was not made aware of this action, although I left clear instructions with the CAO to contact me should any business arise. I was the only council member not called.
David Guergis, Mayor, Essa Township