MORE NEWS ON ONTARIO LAND TRIBUNAL'S (OLT) ASSUMING JURISDICTION OVER PROPOSED MARYHILL GRAVEL PIT

Today's Waterloo Region Record carries the following story by Leah Gerber titled "Maryhill gravel pit decision stripped from township council". This article follows one in the Woolwich Observer from nine days ago. It turns out that one of the lead volunteers with the Hopewell Creek Ratepayers Assoc. is a former vice-Chair of the Ontario Municipal Board namely Susan Campbell. This combined with the political knowledge of fellow member Bonnie Bryant can only be helpful for the ratepayers group. ......................................................................................................................... It turns out that provincial legislation demands 90 day and 120 day decisions from municipal councils on zoning amendments and Official Plan Amendments respectively. These deadlines are long past yet the resources manager for Capitol Paving was very kind in his words regarding Woolwich Council to the Record. I am suspicious. Susan Campbell suggested strongly that her understanding was that Woolwich Council were going to make a decision at the last Council meeting of August 10/21 but were preempted with Capitol Paving going to the OLT. Bonnie Bryant also appears to be thinking that Woolwich Council were prepared to deny Capitol Paving's applications for amendments. .................................................................................................................. While I agree that would be appropriate I have to wonder about the typical Woolwich back room dealing. Is it possible that someone on Woolwich Council (mayor?) whispered in Capitol Paving's ear to please, please go to the OLT as is your right, in order to save Woolwich Council from having to make a politically difficult decision? Afterall if Council said yes they would greatly anger the Maryhill folks and their supporters and if they said no they knew they would end up spending Woolwich taxpayers money, possibly fruitlessly, defending their decision at the OLT. Politicians do not care for lose-lose scenarios. This way the OLT can be the bad guys and Council can pretend they are for the little guy and that they would have stood up to both Capitol Paving and the pro-gravel province.