Councillors here are wary about leaving ratepayers with the wrong opinion.
While council plans to discuss residents’ concerns with a forced water hook-up bylaw, it is not going to happen until later this summer.
Discussion originated in the wake of a controversial public meeting on May 31 regarding the town’s proposed water servicing bylaw, which would force connection to the municipal water system for over 100 homes near existing water mains in Hillsburgh and Erin.
At the June 7 council discussion of that May water meeting, councillor Barb Tocher asked if council could determine what process it intends to use.
“For council’s benefit – as well as the public’s benefit,” she added.
She said it is important to let people know what is going to be happening.
Mayor Lou Maieron asked if Tocher had any suggestions.
Tocher did not have anything specific, but said she would like to see the return of councillor John Brennan before council discusses the issue further.
“Other than that I have no agenda,” she said.
Maieron agreed, “There have been a number questions raised from that meeting that should require some responses, replies, and investigation on what was said.”
He believes those issues should be addressed.
“But who, when, and how?” asked Tocher.
“I’ve put some questions to staff, have you?” Maieron said.
“No.” Tocher said.
She explained, “My whole point here is that I don’t think we should be doing this individually.”
Tocher said council should set some time aside to discuss the minutes of that meeting and the issues that need further investigation. At that time, council would decide who would be the person investigating the issue, or what other concerns or questions council might have so the process can proceed.
“There are some interesting issues raised that we need to deal with,” Tocher added. “We need some time to talk about it and to give direction to staff.”
Maieron asked when Brennan would return.
Staff said Brennan is hoping to return by the July 12 meeting.
Tocher suggested recirculating the minutes of the May 31 meeting at that time.
Maieron said it was a public information meeting and council has not, as yet, discussed the issue. “The draft bylaw came up and there were concerns raised by council – so we deferred it. The residents also had a number of concerns so we had the special meeting to hear their concerns.”
He agreed with Tocher he did not want to have the discussion until Brennan’s return in July from medical issues.
“I just didn’t want this to get lost,” Tocher said.
“I don’t think this would ever get lost,” Maieron responded.
Tocher said if work needs to be done, council needs to give staff that direction.
Maieron said if councillors have questions and need answers, they could ask staff.
“Then, when councillor Brennan is back, we could have a more formalized process.”
Councillor Deb Callaghan asked if Maieron was suggesting council should ask staff individually.
“I think that is wrong,” Tocher said. “There items in the minutes that council needs to follow up on, and we need a time to be able to do that,” she added.
Maieron said Brennan is not at council, and would not be for at least a month.
He said it would give Brennan a chance to ask questions of staff in the interim, prior to his return, or council could sit on the issue until then.
Councillor Josie Wintersinger saw no problem doing a “bit of homework” with staff before the discussions.
Maieron has no doubt there will be a few discussions on the issue. “But to be fair we need all five councillors here.”
Wintersinger said because discussion is over a month away, perhaps a note on the town’s website should be posted to let people know council is looking into the matter.
“But we’re not,” Tocher said. “We’re not looking into anything. That’s the whole point.”
Wintersinger said, “But we will be.”
Callaghan added, “We’re deferring this until July.”
Wintersinger said, “We will be [looking into this].”
Maieron said there would still be nothing to stop councillors from reviewing the minutes.
Tocher said there are issues where staff will need direction.
She said it is not up to individuals to ask those questions. “It is a council decision. If five of us go and ask staff five different questions, we’ll have them running around like chickens with their heads cut off.”
She said council needs to discuss the issue to give staff direction “so we can move forward.”
Maieron asked if that meant not advancing anything until Brennan is back.
Tocher agreed.
Maieron still wanted a chance to use the time usefully.
Tocher said all she was saying was council should discuss the minutes once Brennan returns, “and we can move forward from there.”
Maieron said he suspected the meeting caused questions for staff as well.
He added when the minutes come back for discussion, council should also have all the related materials available as well.
Clerk Kathryn Ironmonger asked if it would be fair to post on the website that council will not be making a decision on the water servicing bylaw until September.
Tocher recommended saying “the fall.” That way it would not tie discussion down to a specific month.
Maieron said he understood the desire to move the process along.
Tocher said it was just as important for people to know how it is going to move along – “not just the public – us too.”
Wintersinger added that council does not want to leave the impression residents came out and then nothing was being done.
