The Town of Minto and the Upper Grand District School Board are at odds over the best way for students to get to Minto Clifford Public School on foot in light of development at the former Harriston Senior School property.
When the town purchased the Harriston Senior School from the board in 2012, one condition was that the town addresses the issue of access to Minto Clifford School. Since the 1970s, many students have accessed Minto Clifford via a path running through the Harriston Senior School property. The other option currently involves travelling along Arthur Street (Highway 89) until the sidewalk ends, then cutting across the St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church parking lot onto school property.
The access agreement signed on closing stipulates the town shall maintain the existing walkway through the former school to Minto Clifford until:
– the town constructs a sidewalk along Arthur Street to the access to Minto Clifford School;
– improvements have been made to the property to render public use impossible; and
– the parties agree that the access agreement should be terminated.
The town sold the property to Jeremy and Jeff Metzger, and Metzger Construction Ltd. in 2013. At the time the town and the purchasers, who intend to develop the property for residential use, agreed public use of the existing walkway would be allowed until the developers construct a 1.5 metre wide gravel walkway on the William Street road allowance from George Street north to the Minto-Clifford Public School to the town’s satisfaction.
Council approved the relocated walkway after “extensive public consultation” including a neighbourhood meeting, and two public meetings on the proposed rezoning, noted CAO Bill White in a report at the May 20 council meeting.
“Area residents participated in the meetings, commented on the site plans (attached), and made it clear an internal walkway must be provided even if the Arthur Street sidewalk is built,” White stated.
However, before construction of the William Street walkway began, the Metzgers learned school board staff would not consent to an opening in the fence around the school to allow access into the yard due to monitoring and security concerns.
White said the school board’s position is that the Arthur Street sidewalk should be constructed.
However town staff asked council to request the school board permit an opening in the fence where the William Street walkway would connect, and that the access agreement between the town and he board be terminated once the walkway is complete.
“Council and the Metzger’s made a commitment to area residents that there would be an internal walkway for students and pedestrians to access Minto Clifford without having to use Arthur Street,” the report states, adding, relocation of the walkway to William Street “was accepted by area residents and much preferred over directing pedestrians to Arthur Street.”
Councillor Terry Fisk said he couldn’t understand how “monitoring and security” would be affected by moving the opening in the fence from its current location to Williams Street. “To me they’re going to close one gap and open up another gap so the security and monitoring will be the same, it will just be at a different spot.”
The report notes the Arthur Street sidewalk could be constructed by the town, at a cost currently estimated at $2,000, “at such time as the informal access across the Catholic Church lands is not available.”
Council accepted the report, including the recommendation to ask the board to permit an opening in the fence at William Street and agree to the termination of the access agreement once the walkway is completed.
