WOOLWICH POLITICS

Huh! Isn't this a website focused on Woolwich environmental issues? Yes it is and therein lies the rub. Both for better and worse, politics and the environment are inextricably linked. Here is some history. Back in the 50's, 60's and 70's Uniroyal Chemical had a number of employees on Woolwich Council. Keep in mind when Uniroyal first came to town in the early 40's they were seen as the saviour as they reopened and expanded the abandoned factory on the banks of the Canagagigue.

APT Environment burst on the scene in 1989 originally in response to the proposed Uniroyal incinerator. They switched gears and focused on ground and surface water after the drinking wells were shut down in November 1989 allegedly due to some never heard of before chemical, namely NDMA. In the early 90's Sylvia Berg (APTE V.P.) ran unsucessfully for Mayor with the support of former Mayor Bob Waters. Most recently, the long time Chair of CPAC, Pat McLean also ran unsucessfully for Mayor. Also in the early 90's, Regional Chair Ken Seiling used to drop by for coffee and a chat at the home of Susan Bryant (APTE Pres.). Are we beginning to see some evidence of linkages between local politics and the environment?

Former Mayor Bill Strauss and Pat Mclean were buddies and fellow supporters on Woolwich Council for many years. Former Councillor Sandy Shantz who did not run in the last election sat on CPAC for four years as Council's representative. She should have been Chair of their Committee of Council, however former Mayor Strauss, former Councillor Murray Martin and Councillor Mark Bauman all supported keeping Pat McLean on as Chair despite her losing her Council seat. This could have been out of sympathy or perhaps they were merely confident and happy with where she was taking CPAC.

Meanwhile back at CPAC a certain allegedly independent Hydrogeologist (Wilf Ruland) at least twice took an active lobbying role in regards to CPAC membership. He was always vigorously supported by both Pat McLean and Susan Bryant, allegedly due to his technical expertise. In reality he was consulted on "Optimization issues, DNAPLS, Site Specific Remediation (SSRA) and only a few other issues. His specific technical knowledge of the entire Uniroyal/Chemtura site was limited by his extremely hit and miss, drop in and drop out participation over the years. Nevertheless he apparently felt no compunctions against advising CPAC on overall strategies and on behind the scenes lobbying with Pat and Susan for both their continued presence at CPAC and for the removal of yours truly. He once rather cattily referred to me as an ankle biter. This is in my opinion, extremely weird behaviour for an allegedly independent consultant, hired by Woolwich Council ostensibly to give hydrogeological advice to Council nominated representatives at CPAC, including yours truly. Who the heck told him to get involved politically? What was his real motivation?

Over the years, CPAC has been a bit of a revolving door. In regards to Fred Hager, his absence due to health issues has been both unfortunate and understandable. More perplexing have been the sudden comings and goings of John Dehoodge, Shannon Holton, Tricia Brubacher and Richard Petrone. Richard was the most technically experienced and yet I doubt he attended more than one or two meetings in the last year. Tricia was very good but I believe she was the only member whose absence was formally noted by CPAC and we were advised she had resigned. Shannon we and the public have never been told a thing as to her non attendance. The two remaining newcomers, Sandra Bair and Ken Driedger have been regular attendees and have clearly shown their interest with timely and pointed questions to both the M.O.E. and Chemtura. It is my understanding that similar to her Council seat, Sandy Shantz has not reapplied to be on CPAC. Hindsight is always clearer and in hindsight I suggest that both Council and CPAC have lost an honest, decent human being.

Former Mayor Bill Strauss personally has and had environmental challenges. These included a gas station in Heidelburg as well as the former Strauss Fuels across from Martin/Heintz Pet Foods on Arthur St. in Elmira. The latter site was remediated three summers ago by Esso via Quantum Environmental whom I worked for that season. Regional Chair Ken Seiling has some past involvement with the proposed Hawk Ridge Homes development across from Varnicolor, Sulco and Chemtura. The main issue here is the potential proximity to major chemical companies although there certainly is some groundwater contamination.

It is my conclusion that Elmira has gone nowhere fast environmentally in the past twenty years. It is also my conclusion that this is because of the politics here over that time frame. Too many local politicians and or wanna bees have quite possibly honest biases in favour of local industries and thus were more concerned with appearances than actual cleanups. Both Chemtura and the M.O.E. have seemed very pleased with the alleged "progress" over the decades. I am not and never have been. I believe that our new Mayor and Council are also not pleased. I further believe that they are going to take the steps necessary to obtain real improvement.