Mayor Ray Tout had some harsh words for resident Jens Dam when the Wellington North resident attended council’s Dec. 3 meeting.
Dam wants to know who approved the reimbursement of $80,000 to developers once the new bylaw was approved by council and wants to know whether the reimbursement process was followed properly.
He reiterated his stance and received a heated response from Tout, who called the resident’s efforts “grandstanding.”
An appeal of the township’s development charges and the way they were handled will be dealt with at an Ontario Municipal Board hearing slated for Jan. 22. The hearing is to deal with whether the township brought in the development charge bylaw properly and was allowed to make it retroactive.
Dam has publicly criticized staff and council for not being up front on the reimbursements when he has made inquiries about who signed the cheques that were sent out.
“He’s come with slanderous accusations about my colleagues and staff,” Tout told reporters after the meeting. “These people are working hard. I’m not impressed.”
Dam told the Advertiser after the meeting all he is seeking is clarification about who approved the reimbursements.
“All I’m asking for is who gave the direction to pay?” he said. “I made a reasonable request and if [Tout] doesn’t like it that’s good. I don’t think I’m grandstanding if I’m asking a question.”
The township has already warned Dam about possible legal action and a township lawyer, in a letter in mid-June, called on him to publicly apologize for statements made about township staff, in particular chief administrative officer Lori Heinbuch, the mayor and the chief building official. But no legal action has been taken by the township.
Dam has claimed the payback constituted an “illegal and fraudulent use of taxpayer money,” because it was done without a formal, public resolution by council.
“Since this matter is before the OMB, these matters are best left to that body to hear and determine the proper outcome of this dispute,” Tout said in a written statement.
“The township has in fact retained independent legal counsel and independent land economists to fully defend the development charges bylaw before the OMB. Mr. Dam also has the right to fully support his appeal. The OMB shall determine this dispute.”
Tout continued, “Despite this process, the applicant has decided to make wide and varied accusations again myself, this council, township staff and now, apparently, the integrity of its retained professionals. Such allegations are as false as they are fanciful.
“Although the appellant may disagree with the development charges process, the allegations he freely makes are inappropriate. Once these matters are concluded before the OMB, this council shall consider any and all avenues available to it. Council takes opposition to the significant allegations that Mr. Dam makes, which may give rise to recourse at a later date.”
Dam said he has never opposed the lower development charges, only the way reimbursements were handled.
