Puslinch council’s recent discussion on the renewal of a lease agreement with the Aberfoyle Market Association resulted in a misconception.
On May 17, councillors reviewed a letter from Lois Shewfelt, who was concerned about the potential closure of the Aberfoyle Farmer’s Market.
Shewfelt wrote she was horrified to read in the Wellington Advertiser that council was considering closing the Aberfoyle Farmers Market. However, that was not what the story conveyed.
The Aberfoyle Farmers’ Market requested a 75% discount to the rental fee for the Optimist Recreation Centre. The market was being asked to pay 66% of the rental rate.
As council reviewed the letter by Shewfelt, councillor Ken Roth said “I didn’t know (council) was closing the market.”
“We were not,” said Mayor Dennis Lever.
Roth said “I guess this is just misinformation.”
Councillor Susan Fielding said, “Unfortunately Shewfelt misconstrued the story. I don’t think there was ever any conversation about closing the market.”
Mayor Lever stated, “there is misinformation in her belief that council was closing the market. We have never talked about that.”
He explained any decision would be up to the organization running the market.
“The only way something like that would happen would be if we did not sign the (lease) agreement. But we have signed it.”
CAO Karen Landry noted the market association has now also signed on.
Some of the confusion may have arisen from another story published on April 28 – also on the front page of the Advertiser’s second section.
That story stated Minto “is discontinuing the farmers market … in Harriston … due to a lack of vendors and volunteers.”
Prior to the discussion, councillor Matthew Bulmer stepped aside as he provides services to the market.
