Five municipalities are urged to join conservation authority

By DOUGLAS GLYNN Midland Free Press May 9 2012
MIDLAND – An environmentalist who played a role in establishing the Severn Sound Environmental Association has urged five SSEA member municipalities to consider joining a conservation authority.
 Sandy Agnew, a former Oro-Medonte council member, says Midland, Penetanguishene, and the townships of Tay, Tiny and Severn are not within lands regulated under the Conservation Authorities Act. “It makes sense to have a consistent approach across Simcoe County to have the environmental protection that a conservation authority could provide,” he says. Conservation authorities have the powers to protect streams, shorelines and wetlands.
“Municipalities within lands regulated under the Act,” he says, “are required to circulate municipal policy documents and planning and development applications, such as official plans and draft plans of subdivision applications, to the conservation authority for review and comment.”
However, he notes, “there is no such requirement to submit municipal policy documents or other Planning Act applications to the SSEA for review and comment.”
Agnew, who has served as a member of the Nottawasaga Conservation Authority and representative on the Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority, made his suggestion at a recent SSEA meeting.
 He also called on the SSEA to be more transparent by making staff reports available when they are presented at meetings.
“Every municipality makes staff reports available when they are presented to council,” he said in an interview.
“I’ve asked for several January reports, but was told they would not be available until the minutes were approved at the next quarterly meeting in April. They should be public at the time they are presented. In fact,” he added, “they should be available online at the end of the meeting.”
Agnew said he would also like to see the organizational strengthening committee seek public input.