Orientation meeting for NVCA board members
Answers provided to Wasaga Beach councillor’s questions
By Sandy Agnew AWARE Simcoe August 31 2011
The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority held a special meeting on August 19th, primarily as an orientation session for new members.
Three presentations were heard followed by questions for each one.
The first presentation was by Wayne Wilson, CAO who outlined the Mandate, Strategic Approach and NVCA Targets.
Second was Connie Fox from Conservation Ontario (CO). She explained the mandate of CO and makeup of its board and staff and explained the report by the Conservation Authority Liaison Committee (CALC) completed in May, 2010.
The third presentation was by Karen Wianecki, Planning Solutions Inc. She presented the comprehensive program review of the planning services delivered by the NVCA conducted by Planning Solutions, September 17, 2010 by her company.
NVCA Planning Director Chris Hibberd was supposed to do a presentation on NVCA planning and regulations guidelines and on pond policy but was deferred due to lack of time.
These orientation sessions are intended to inform board members of the various policies, obligations and regulations under which the NVCA operates and the reasons for why the NVCA, and all CAs, are formed in the first place. Unfortunately much of the importance of the work of the CA seems to be lost on some members.
One of the Wasaga Beach members, Councillor Nina Bifolchi, submitted a four page list of questions and comments that appeared to challenge the legitimacy and credibility of the work of the NVCA. Councillor Bifolchi’s questions and the staff response were on the agenda but she declined to discuss them until she had time to read the staff response.
Here are the links to the three presentationsm as well as to Bifolchi’s list of questions and the 14 page staff response.
Cookstown Outlet Mall
August 26th was the regular NVCA board meeting.
The main agenda item was a board hearing to consider an application by Taurus Cookstown Partners Limited (Cookstown Outlet Mall), SE corner of Highways 400 and 89, to expand the mall. Staff had not supported the proposal and the applicant has the right to appeal to the NVCA board.
The staff and the applicant both presented their cases. Then the board asked many questions. The drainage in the area is very complicated due to undersized culverts under Highway 400.
In the end the board passed a motion to adjourn the hearing pending a meeting between the various parties, including MTO and the submission of outstanding studies.
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