Wednesday, May 2, 2012

WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP COMPRIMISES ON BIO-EN



Well in this world we rarely get everything we want. That being said many members of the BFCC (Biofuel Citizens Committee) were feeling doubly disappointed when Woolwich Council firstly turned down the opportunity to appeal the M.O.E.'s decision to accept the Martin's lane location and then seemed reluctant to give even moral support to the BFCC and their appeal. Last night brought some needed good news to the BFCC. Firstly Dan Kennaly (Staff) spoke to Council about various options other than full blown party status at the upcoming Environmental Review Tribunal (ERT). He and Staff recommended Presenter Status to Council which would allow them to continue to express their serious concerns about the location without needing to spend Township funds on legal or other expert help. Council rapidly voted in favour of this proposal and made it obvious that they would make their support of the BFCC's appeal; clear to the ERT. I trust that the BFCC will use this Councillor support combined with the 85 person protest from two weeks ago to enlighten the ERT that BIO-EN's presence on Martin's Lane is widely unpopular in Elmira.
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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 3, 2012 at 9:57 AM

    This is not a compromise. It is a cop-out by Todd Cowan to make it look like he is actually doing something. Hire a lawyer and seek status = you would actually convince a few people that you are honestly trying. I guess Todd et al don't know the history lesson with Uniroyal called the Duke Street Lawsuit!

    SV

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  2. AlanMay 3, 2012 at 11:58 AM

    The result of the Duke St. lawsuit initiated by the "Duke St. rowdies" was a pleasant surprise to me. In a negotiated settlement they were sucessful in having Chemtura/Uniroyal buy their homes allowing them to remove themselves from horrid fumigations. If Chemtura had chosen to fight they could simply have spent $$$ the residents into submission. Regarding Bio-En I too was disappointed with the Township but do understand that the chances of success are slim and it would have cost all Woolwich township residents tax dollars.

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousMay 4, 2012 at 7:26 AM

      Maybe so, but Al, if one actually considers the cost of being "reactive" vs "proactive" in the end it could actually cost the Township less (and us as taxpayers) to nip this bio gas plant in the bud now. Problem for a lot of us is that we thought we had a strong voice though our municipal government and they have just rolled over and played dead. Perhaps it is not actually the Mayor but the CAO? (The same CAO who has been at the helm for one of the highest property taxes I can ever recall - during a bad economy).

      Best

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  3. AnonymousMay 3, 2012 at 4:06 PM

    I agree with you comments. Unfortunately it seems to a lot of us that the Township has really, and i'm sure you will agree based on your other posts, defaulted to the "government mantra" about legalities, barriers, limits to authority - THAT IS BS! They have an obligation, and Todd pretty much stated so during the last election, to get Bio En out of Elmira. If that means taking some risks, retaining the RIGHT legal advice - then he and the Township need to do that. Is anything a 100% chance of success? Of course not. Does it mean they should scam us with a weakling "participant" status at the hearing - NO WAY. Get a qualified lawyer there and some expert witnesses and fight this thing professionally and according to the rules. I'm am sorry by my tone but the residents of the High Street, Riverside, Dunke, William, Church St, Arthur Steets area have had ENOUGH excuses out of Cowan and friends.

    SV

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  4. AnonymousMay 3, 2012 at 5:42 PM

    "widely unpopular" - a great way to sum up BioEn. Thanks!

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