Tuesday April 22: Nottawasaga watershed issue at Springwater council

The April 22 meeting of Springwater Council is going to be very important – and not just for Midhurst.

– Anyone who cares about the Minesing Wetlands and the Nottawasaga watershed should attend.

– Anyone who lives downstream of the proposed Midhurst Secondary Plan (Wasaga Beach residents take note) should attend.

 Agenda items include:

Deputation to Council about the Threat to Minesing Wetlands and the Hines’ Emerald Dragonfly

Chris Evans, first vice president of the Brereton Field Naturalists Club, will be presenting a deputation on the Hines Emerald Dragonfly – the rarest dragonfly in the world and found only in the Minesing Wetlands in all of Canada.

Chris will be presenting a sober warning to Springwater – stop the Midhurst mega-development or you face dire consequences both financial and ecological. His studies have shown that the Hines is a canary in the coal mine telling us that the wetlands and surrounding Nottawasaga watershed is sick. We must take care of it now before it is too late.

Deputy Mayor MacLean Draft Protocols to Stifle Public Engagement and Access

Months ago, draft protocols were put forward that would make radical changes to question and answer period, public notification and other protocols. Due to public pressure, these protocols were abandoned, but now they are back. Some proposed changes:

• New constraints on agenda release prior to meetings – 48 hrs

• New constraints on question period – cannot ask questions requesting an immediate decision on any topic not listed on agenda

• Further tightening of the reins on fellow council members and public – councillors and public can be ejected according to determination by mayor as the propriety of their behaviour

These policies are going straight to a vote – no time for public input!!

Notice of Motion by Councillors Ritchie and Hanna on September motion on MSP

Springwater surprised attendees with a motion at a September public information meeting in 2013 to the effect that no prior decision about the Midhurst Secondary Plan would be reconsidered. It carried in a 5-2 vote.

Now that new information has come to light about the financing arrangements, threats to the wetland and watershed, limited scope of the environmental assessment and a Supreme Court of Canada decision that makes it unlikely that developers would be able to sue the Township if councillors change their mind about the MSP based on new information, Councillor Ritchie and Hanna have brought forth a motion to re-examine that September vote.

Letter of Support to Express Concerns about the Ontario Ombudsman’s Oversight into Municipalities

Simcoe County is asking its municipalities to share its concern about the province’s plan to extend the powers of the Ombudsman’s office into municipalities.

This is about closed meetings of council. If a citizen objects, council can hire its own private closed meeting investigator at a cost, or retain the Ontario Ombudsman at no cost to the ratepayer.

We feel that an objective third party that runs proper and thorough examinations is what is needed to keep local government open and accountable. Not to mention, the cost savings of using a service that provincial taxpayers are funding. Why pay extra for something (private closed meeting investigators) that already exists?

There’s a motion on the agenda to support Simcoe County’s concerns. We feel that Springwater should reject this motion to

a) save the township money and

b) demonstrate confidence that members of council are above-board and have nothing to worry about with the Ombudsman’s oversight.

The meeting starts at 5:30 pm and is held at the Springwater offices at 2231 Nursery Road, Minesing. Please attend!