By Staff
January 4th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Councillor Meed Ward taking nine motions to city council meeting.
In her most recent Ward 2 Newsletter city Councillor Marianne Meed Ward said: “Some residents have suggested deferring approval of the Official Plan till after the October municipal election, and putting the proposed plan to the test of the electorate. I am also open to that suggestion.
In an email to an Aldershot resident Meed Ward said: Thanks – I will be bringing a motion January 23 to defer approval of the OP till after the election.
The feedback we have been getting is that this will be a 6-1 vote – whichever way the vote goes it is going to be a momentous Standing Committee meeting. Seating is limited – get there early – and remember – no clapping, hissing or booing.
Meed Ward has announced that she will have nine different motions to put before her colleagues. Motions have to be seconded – who signed on with Meed Ward – Taylor or the Mayor?
The proposed Official Plan became an election issue on Nov 13, when we found out what it really meant in terms of the future of our city. It is now up to council to acknowledge that is the case and that many citizens are uneasy over the 421 Brant decisions and the new OP.
If residents want to make things happen they have to do it. Take the time to email your councillor and the mayor about making the Official Plan an election issue. Ask the councillors to NOT ratify the amendment that allows 421 Brant Street to become a 23 storey building. THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THIS.
The excuse that if they didn’t approve this amendment would result in the developer going to the OMB is not why a Council that supposedly represents the residents that elected them should agree to poor planning decisions.
There didn’t seem to be a problem for most members of Council to approve millions of dollars for a “Glass Cage” that will be built to house administration for the Joseph Brant Museum.
As my children will attest I am not very good with the English language, please clarify;
MMW said, “Some residents have suggested deferring approval of the Official Plan till after the October municipal election, and putting the proposed plan to the test of the electorate.”
Does she want the current plan deferred for acceptance until after new council is elected?
Is she proposing a referendum on the issue or points therein?
Simply candidates to declare they are in favour or against and whoever wins votes whatever they want?
Without a clear referendum we will only have more of the same bickering in the future.
Of course some on council will say it is too complex for us to decide or it can’t be done. Both good points to be sure but if this is the case it is far too complex for even these other 6 to decide, so can it entirely.
Oakville has routinely made use of referenda questions on the Ballot but not Burlington because it is too complex, supposedly. Where there is no will there is absolutely no way.
“Without a clear referendum we will only have more of the same bickering in the future.”
I’m maybe fine with a referendum question, but the election becomes that anyway.
If the Councilors believe in this OP direction then electing them that support it with a referendum loss that opposes it hardly causes clarification. They can’t make 4 years of votes against there own judgement.