WOW! SOUR GRAPES, DECEPTION AND MANIPULATION

Yesterday's Elmira Independent carries this story "CPAC members have been consulted". Yours truly has sent in a short Letter to the Editer which I hope to see in next week's Independent. David Brenneman, the CAO of Woolwich Township has indicated that CPAC members have been consulted in regards to both updated Terms of Reference as well as membership. What is also pointed out is that normally Township appointments are handled internally without prior notice to the committee members in question. This has always been the norm.

What has been notably absent from these discussions regarding CPAC appointments is the fact that it was Pat McLean assisted by the strong support of Susan Bryant who insisted back in 2000 that CPAC become a formal committee of Woolwich Township. CPAC, previously known as UPAC (Uniroyal Public Advisory Committee) had NOT been a committee of Council until 2000 when Pat McLean as a sitting member of Council decided that it should be. Oh how times have changed! Now with a new Mayor and Council who are neither enamoured nor indebted to Pat, she's no longer happy with Council actually having control of their own committee. Susan Bryant has recently publicly hinted (last week's Independent) that "those who want to continue to pay attention will do so through some other means than CPAC". In that same article Susan Bryant also admits that she has had personal meetings recently with Mayor Cowan as well as Township officials. Apparently in her mind, consultation only counts if everyone agrees with her opinion. I personally have seen this side of both Pat and Susan. I am also aware of further meetings with Township officials by former CPAC members which Mr. Brenneman has not mentioned. Perhaps Mr. Brenneman simply was respecting the privacy of these citizens by not mentioning them. I as both a colleague and friend of theirs will mention their names with an apology up front to them in the unlikely scenario that they are shy. Both former Councillor and CPAC member Sandy Shantz has been consulted as well as former CPAC member and Order of Canada recipient, Dr. Henry Regier. Finally I must also admit that as a former CPAC member, 20 + year veteran of both UPAC and CPAC, personal holder of an extensive Uniroyal/Chemtura collection of technical data and an ongoing student of chemistry and hydrogeology that I too have been consulted.

Despite no requirement for consultation, the fact is that all stakeholders have been consulted. So what game are Pat and Susan playing with their public whining? In my opinion they know the jig is up. If they want to stay involved they can do so by attending monthly CPAC meetings, where as members of the public they can be heard. This of course is not the same as being in charge. Years ago in a moment of candour, Susan referred to Pat as a "control freak". This is at least a part of their motivation. If they can't be in charge then damnit they'll not only take their marbles and go home but they will also attempt to rain on the new, incoming CPAC.