May 27 council briefs: City solicitor to investigate constitutional challenge of strong mayor powers

CONNOR LUCZKA, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The City of Stratford’s solicitor and staff will be preparing a report to potentially mount a charter challenge of the strong mayor powers.

Council, barring Coun. Bonnie Henderson and Coun. Cody Sebben who were absent, unanimously made the decision at its May 27 meeting, after Coun. Mark Hunter made the motion.

That evening was not the first time he had contemplated such an action. At council’s April 28 meeting, Hunter suggested a number of options for council to consider to push back against the powers, including to potentially sue the province for infringing on the municipality’s rights.

In the written portions of Canada’s Constitution, local governments are not mentioned at all and are treated as creatures of the province. That being said, that evening Hunter suggested that there may be an argument to be made over the precedence of how municipalities have been operating in Canada for centuries.

According to municipal governance experts, as published in the May 16 edition of the Times, municipalities do not have any legal authority to challenge the powers, which endow certain mayors with a plethora of powers including the hiring and firing of senior staff members and vetoing council votes if they contravene a provincial priority.

Annual accessibility award given to Roger Koert; Tom Patterson Bridge being investigated due to accessibility concerns

Roger Koert, chair of the accessibility advisory committee (AAC), was presented with this year’s accessibility award for the “invaluable work he has done for our city,” according to Diane Sims.

“From initiating the stop gap program to his vital work on site plans that results in better washrooms around town – better accessible washrooms around town – accessible playgrounds for people of all ages, abilities and disabilities (and) more enhanced, accessible parking spaces,” Sims, vice chair of the AAC, explained.

The award is given out each year during AccessAbility Week, which started on May 25 this year. It celebrates and promotes accessibility and inclusion, recognizing the achievements of Canadians with disabilities and the ongoing work needed to remove barriers.

Sims, ever the advocate, didn’t waste her time delegating to council that evening. After presenting Koert with the award, she presented the many AAC success stories that occurred this past year as well as some of the city’s historic shortfalls when it comes to accessibility.

One of the city-owned assets that continue to be a sore point for accessibility advocates is the Tom Patterson Island bridge, which is currently not barrier-free accessible. Furthermore, the city currently has no plans to make it accessible for another 10 years, when the bridge needs to be repaired or replaced.

Later in the evening, Coun. Lesley Biehn inquired about the bridge, eventually moving a motion to investigate costing of making the bridge accessible. As she said, the bridge is steep even for mobile members of society and she sympathizes with those needing a wheelchair or other mobility device to get onto the island.

She also advised staff to look into how the bridge’s refurbishment could be a community project, a notion Sims suggested in her delegation.

Bill 5 criticism endorsed by council

Council lent its voice to decrying Bill 5, the would-be Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act.

Council endorsed a letter from the Town of Shelburne and addressed to senior members of the provincial government that opposes the bill and urges the Province of Ontario to instead advance housing and infrastructure with policies that respect environmental planning.

The bill, aside from designating special economic zones aimed to speed up mining approval in northern Ontario, would also make significant changes to the Endangered Species Act, a move denounced by many environmental groups and advocates.

As Coun. Jo-Dee Burbach said, she opposes the bill for many reasons but is also aware that it’s possible to speed up processes and cut red tape without axing environmental studies and due diligence altogether.

Councillors weren’t the only critics of the bill that evening. Jane Marie Mitchell delegated on the matter at the beginning of the meeting, imploring council to endorse the letter.

“There is no regard for public safety, wetland protection, endangered or other species protection within our diverse ecosystems,” Mitchell said. “Instead of scientific oversight there is political oversight by government officials like a gatekeeper which doesn't sound appropriate when talking about the environment … Ontario can do better.”

Furthermore, Coun. Taylor Briscoe suggested adding their voice as a council to what Indigenous partner governments have put forward as well.

“I think that's a true act of reconciliation, lending our voice to what they are calling for,” Briscoe said. “Certainly we're concerned about the environment, environmental impact, as the delegation touched on, (but) supporting the constitutional rights of our Indigenous partners is also really important.”

The motion passed unanimously (except for Sebben and Henderson).

City looking to sell land for new housing builds

Council unanimously voted to start negotiations with Pol Quality Homes to sell two plots of city land for the express purpose of building housing.

After issuing a request for expressions of interest (RFEOI) for housing plans for 161 East Gore St. and 38 Coriano St., a selection committee composed of city staff selected Pol Quality Homes as the successful proponent out of four applicants, based on a criteria matrix.

Pol Quality Homes is proposing to build 18 units at 161 East Gore St., held within six semi-detached dwellings. Of those units, eight would be affordable housing and maintained and managed for 40 years by Pol.

At 38 Coriano St., Pol is proposing to build nine units held withing three triplexes, all at market rates.

“Pol was selected due to their history of both building and managing affordable housing in mixed market developments, their willingness to increase density on the sites, and the lack of zoning changes and site plans needed to achieve their vision,” the accompanying staff report reads. “This creates an expedited timeline with a trusted developer at the helm.”

Following the decision, the city will enter into a 90-day negotiating agreement with Pol. Any agreement will be returned to council for final approval.