A last ditch plea by councillor Kirk McElwain prior to considering the township budget fell on deaf ears here on April 11.
McElwain asked council to reinstate funding it had eliminated during the budget talks by ending a capital project for the Heritage Conservation District (HCD) study for Victoria Crescent in Elora.
That amounted to $46,700, and council decided an additional funding request of $25,000 for the study that was part of the 2012 budget talks be redirected to the downtown facade improvement guideline capital project.
McElwain said councillor Walt Visser’s motion “also included a recommendation that the remaining balance of the HCD reserve be taken from reserves and moved to the general operating budget.”
McElwain was the only councillor to oppose that move.
“I would like to take this last opportunity before the budget is approved to convince council that this Heritage Conservation District is important to our community and that we would not be making a responsible decision if we were to throw away five years of work by the council-approved citizen’s committee as well as almost $8,000 of operating budget that the township has already invested in this project,” he said.
“We can meet the requirements of both delegations without additional budget funding in 2012. It’s a win-win solution for all stakeholders, particularly the citizens of Centre Wellington.”
A conservation district can protect the character of the area through the course of change.
McElwain argued such a district will help create a creative economy and bring benefits to Elora.
“Centre Wellington’s heritage is a cornerstone of our culture and of our sense of place,” he said. “To jeopardize that is very short sighted.”
He added, “The rewards that can come through the recognition and conservation of heritage in a community are abundant. The fostering of community pride, the understanding of the narrative of a neighbourhood, and the economic benefits to residents and the municipality are all significant benefits of the designation process.”
He said, “At each stage of this six year journey, director of planning and Heritage Centre Wellington have recommended to council proceeding with the HCD as have other organizations involved with the project.”
He suggested that both could done for $25,000. “Even probably $20,000.”
He noted Kathy Baranski, the chairman of Heritage Centre Wellington said in a report to the budget committee, “Over the last five years, Heritage Centre Wellington has worked diligently with a sub committee, a group of neighbours, staff and … on the Victoria Crescent District Designation. This means that this neighbourhood would have special consideration regarding planning, demolitions, road improvements, etc. under the Ontario Heritage Act. Everyone involved agreed that this area of Elora merited this district designation.
Council agreed last in early 2011 to accept the study and put planner Brett Salmon and the planning department in charge of preparing a budget and work plan for this project.
McElwain said, “I believe, until we have a report from staff proving otherwise, that the data we have to date suggests that the HCD plan can be completed and the request of Heritage Centre Wellington can be accommodated out of the current HCD reserve of $46,000.”
McElwain was unable to obtain a seconder for the motion that would have kept the project going.
Other delegation requests
Council heard a number of delegations at the start of its deliberations on the budget, and the one from Hill Street in Elora was successful.
That street at the south end has been plagued with drainage problems and huge floods ever since it was built without any street services by old Nichol township about 25 years ago. Resident Tracy Fleming asked for some help to get the problems fixed.
Council included $140,000 in its capital budget and directed staff to initiate discussions with residents on the street to review options for treating a portion of the reconstruction as a local improvement. That means residents could pay a portion of the improvements to the street.
No crosswalk
Fergus resident Mark Ewing asked for a crosswalk at Parkside Drive and Highway at the north end of Fergus as a safety measure for students crossing a busy highway near the new Walmart.
But staff advised council the Ministry of Transportation would likely turn down such a request and that, in staff’s opinion, the traffic signal is not required at this time.
No to ash borer fight
Council also rejected a plea for funding from Toni Ellis, of NeighbourWoods, to protect ash trees near the Elora Public School from the emerald ash borer, which has been decimating trees between Windsor and London and is headed this way.
Staff expressed concern that treatments may only prolong the life of an ash tree for up to five years and that the trees required treatment again every few years.
