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Telephone calls were made today to:
Durham Region Planning, Mr.
Richard Szarek:
Informed Richard of the new damage and the matter of
peat removal. He informed me that peat extraction was definitely in
contravene of the zoning bylaw so he made it clear that the
municipality of Brock is responsible to send their bylaw officer to
the property and put a stop work order on the site. After this first
step Durham Region would follow suit by enforcing the Durham Region
Conservation Bylaw.
Regional Councillor, Mr. Larry O'Connor:
Informed our Regional Councillor of the situation and
the potential procrastination of our town councillors. He promised to
get in touch with Brock Planning and Durham Planning and to become
involved with our issue.
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation
Authority, Mr. James Watt:
Talked with James Watt and conveyed the urgency of the
situation with the new damage being inflicted. He expressed to me
that he would expedite the matter and have a letter prepared shortly
on the issue, to be presented to Pefferlaw Peat Products.
Ontario Ministry Of Natural
Resources, Mr. Ian Buchanun:
A message was left and we are awaiting a return call.
Municipality of Brock Planning,
Mr. Tom Getginby:
Tom informed us that the bylaw officer would not be
permitted to act on this matter until the council resumes on
September 20, 1999 (the council recessed for holidays on July 28,
1999 and resumes in September). We informed him that our Bylaw
Officer has been well trained on her duties and that a council
meeting should not be necessary to decide whether or not, or how to
go about, enforcing an obvious infraction of the municipalities
bylaws. He responded by analogy, telling us that if we were talking
of an unimportant matter such as an old unused car sitting next to
someone's manicured lot, there would be no trouble for the Bylaw
Officer to act on policies without the councils consent. If however
an important issue arises, the council would need to be called in
order for the Bylaw Officer to act on the policies. This appears
ludicrous as all infringements could be executed and evidence removed
before any action may be taken on many important matters. With the
Wilfrid Bog, this could mean the demise of the property before any
steps may be taken to prevent what obviously will be further future
damage. We will be asking the Bylaw Officer, Jan Holder, if she has
been directed in general or on this matter only. Tom also suggested
that we place the injunction on the property at our own expense. I
informed him that it was the towns responsibility to pay the legal
costs and that monetary matters cannot dictate which laws will and
which laws will not be applied. By our constitutional right, the town
was responsible to us to uphold these important bylaws and if not, we
will go higher to someone who will.
Durham Region Planning, Mr.
Richard Szarek:
Talked to Richard about the conversation with Tom at
Brock Planning. He was already aware of the developing situation and
is investigating the matter further. He will be meeting with his
colleagues along with Durham Regions solicitors tomorrow on the matter.
The Brock Citizen (local
newspaper), Mr. Jeff Bower:
We contacted the local paper to inform them of the
trouble at Wilfrid Bog. The editor was unaware of the matter and we
will be meeting with him this week to go over the situation so as
events can be brought to the attention of the community.
Pefferlaw Peat Products entered
the protected side and pushed peat into a ridge at the centre of the
disturbed area. |
