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Community Excellence Awards lighten load for council

July 24, 2014   ·   0 Comments

Shelburne council’s full schedule on Monday, July 14th included, amongst many items, a report from Town Planner Steven Wever on an application for a minor variance from the Upper Grand District School Board and a review regarding Dufferin Wind Power’s underground transmission line through Shelburne from the Town Engineer Stephen Burnett & Associates (SBA). However, the evening started on a lighter note with the presentation of Community Excellence Awards to three very deserving citizens.

Tony Porter received an award for his years of service to the Shepherd’s Food Bank in Shelburne, during which time he has served as a client interviewer, designed and implemented plans for smooth operation, and put in many additional hours of volunteering. After 15 years of service Tony is taking a break and was justly recognized for his contribution.

Shelley Doney was also rewarded for her work with the Shepherd’s Cupboard where she has volunteered for the last 16 years. Shelley has conducted interviews and assisted clients, accepted donations during the day outside of food bank hours, opened the food bank to those in need, and picked up food weekly from Foodland. Ms Doney said she was “very mindful that any one of us could be on the other side of the situation,” and commended the generosity of her small town.

Leanne Lang was recognized for her contribution as a member of the Shelburne Library Board for the last seven years. All three award winners received gratitude, recognition and best wishes from the Mayor and council.

On the more serious side of the agenda, Town Councillors were dealing with concerns about damage done to a basement at 300 Main Street West late last week, which resulted from a directional drilling incident by Dufferin Wind Power. The town’s engineer Stephen Burnett of SBA stated that the “incident was reported to the MOE spills action center along with the other incidents that occurred in the wetland area within Town. We are in the process of inquiring on this specific incident.”

There has been strong concern from Council about the lack of communication coming from Dufferin Wind Power (DWP) since drilling began in town June 9th. Recent reports from SBA pointed out several areas of concern regarding DWP construction including protecting the wetlands, securing underground infrastructure, public safety and traffic control. Dufferin Wind Power’s installation of underground transmission lines, continues along the County owned rail corridor that runs through the west end of Shelburne. In Melancthon, DWP construction also continues on above ground transmission lines, where public concerns over ground water contamination have promoted mitigation negotiations with the Ministry of the Environment (MOE.) Chief Administrative Office John Telfer provided the following statement to the Free Press regarding DWP issues in Shelburne: “The Town of Shelburne continues to inspect the project underway by Dufferin Wind Power through their contractors working within our municipal boundaries. Our highest priority is to protect the interests of all Shelburne residents. The authority to police their activities are limited to other jurisdictions at the Provincial level that oversee the Green Energy Act. We believe the actions taken during construction are with high importance to the work timetable and lesser attention to good cooperative planning with the local municipality.”

On another matter, residents in the gallery on July 9th expressed concerned about the possible future addition of up to six portables at the newly opened Glenbrook Elementary School. The Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) hoping to be pre-emptive by acquiring a minor variance for additional parking spaces, should portables be required in the future (possibly as early as this fall,) set off a flurry of discussion around the new institution.

Residents and councillors wanted to know why the school, which can accommodate 449 students, had not been built to accommodate the growing population of students from the new subdivisions, or why school attendance boundaries could not be adjusted to fill the now empty classrooms in Hyland Heights Elementary, rather than bringing in portables to Glenbrook. There were also concerns from neighbouring residents about increased noise, students jumping over fences, and issues with the chain link fence, which allows children to stick their fingers through, placing them in danger with residents’ dogs.

Jennifer Passy Manager of Planning for the UGDSB said that the board had been diligent in meeting the needs of the community and that the size of the school was based on sustainable enrollment, calculating not just peak enrollment, but what can be expected 15 years down the road when the influx of children from the new subdivision have graduated. “What has happened,” said Passy “is the pace of development in Greenbrook has been exponential. The board did not expect to be in this position (of adding portables) so soon.”

Brian Besley from the Centre Dufferin Recreation Centre Board was on hand to voice concerns about granting additional parking to the school in the CDRC parking lot. The CDRC has future plans for an additional ice pad which will put parking at a premium, and a paved lot, with marked parking spaces, would provide the maximum number of places for vehicles. Besley said, “The easy fix is to allow the school board the minor variance providing additional parking in the CDRC lot, but UGDSB should help to pay for paving the lot.”

Mayor Crewson said he wanted to see “cooperation between CDRC and the School Board now, rather than six years from now.” Council passed a motion to allow the minor variance for additional parking spaces for up to a maximum of three portables on the advice of Town Planner Steven Wever. This means UGDSB will need to reapply for any additional parking spaces to accommodate more portables in the future, if required. The motion was passed, subject to the UGDSB entering into “a fair funding formula for paving the parking lot, which meets the needs of both the School Board and the CDRC.”

By Marni Walsh

 

         

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