IGNORING THE PUBLIC INTEREST

"Elevated methane levels don't extend to nearby residents". Well with a sub-title like that is it any wonder Councillor Merlihan why those same residents haven't been attending Council meetings asking for information? This past Tuesday the Councillor and co-owner of the Woolwich Observer asked me why I was still appearing at Council regarding the Bolender Park Landfill methane issues while the residents were not. While there was some useful information in the Observer's story and Editorial of August 3/17, the misleading sub-title was not conducive to bringing out citizens in droves to Council meetings.

This past Tuesday was my third Delegation to Council on this matter. Each Delegation has been a presentation of entirely different data and facts. This most recent one was a compilation of ten facts from nine different scientific and technical articles all of which were listed and given to Woolwich Council. Despite this both Sandy Shantz and Councillor Merlihan attempted to suggest that my statements were no more than opinions. I politely advised them otherwise.

What is my opinion however is the following. Newspapers are supposed to be skeptical by nature. This particularly includes the puffery and heavy duty horse manure peddled by politicians at all levels. My opinion is that since the election of Patrick Merlihan to Woolwich Council, that scrutiny and skepticism have lessened greatly. This is to the direct loss of Woolwich citizens and residents. Yes Patrick Tuesday night at Council dug in his heels on a proposed starting increase of 1.8% municipal taxes for local taxpayers. Yes on occasion he has been either the sole voice of commonsense or part of only two Councillors doing so. Regardless I believe that he is trying to walk a tightrope whether or not he has severed his day to day responsibilities to the Woolwich Observer. Patrick you can not serve two masters simultaneously. The Observer need an owner who is not trying so hard to work collegially with a bunch of self-serving incompetents on Council.

That collegiality may extend to the Observer's failure to present my case, as expressed in three Delegations to Council, that the monitoring and reporting of methane gas at the Bolender Landfill has been inadequate to say the least. These failures by the Township's consultants have understated the extent and distribution of methane gas at or above the Lower Explosive Level (LEL) and hence the risk to local citizens and businesses. The consultant's reports have also understated the actual physical size of the Bolender Landfill also minimizing the risk of methane gas being closer to homes and businesses.

To date I have received nothing but bald and bland assurances from Staff, Council, consultants and the Woolwich Fire Chief that everything is O.K.. What I have not received is any confirmation that the entire perimeter of the landfill will be monitored. I have not received any confirmation that gas probe monitoring will occur either continuously or even on a regular schedule, year round. I have not been assured that Woolwich will look for the real boundaries of the landfill much more diligently. I have not been assured that Woolwich will do their due diligence by installing methane warning alarms in houses nearest the landfill. And on and on.

I have mentioned the upcoming "review" and report due to be presented in Council next Tuesday. This is neither a third party review nor a peer review. It is the fox commenting on the currently wonderful security around the hen house. At best GHD and Woolwich staff will discuss a few of the facts and failings I have pointed out. At worst it will be a veiled hatchet job of one of the few Woolwich residents willing to do the work and research on behalf of the public interest.