Editor;
With apologies to the people of Meaford who are well tired of the Georgian Beach Road issue, I must answer Councillor Stephens' concerns regarding dropping the Municipality's suit against its own residents.
Her concerns are:
1. "We have no insurance coverage because of rescinding this by-law."
Its clear by this that you had no concerns about forcing a suit on a few residents who had no such coverage to fund their defense. Your plan was to cost the Municipality nothing while forcing others to sell real estate and cash in their RRSPs.
2. "We will have to pay legal costs for those on the 10 lot stretch, as well as any other costs that they might come up with."
As well you should. They did not seek this action. It was forced upon them by you. And do you think they will "come up with" things that are fraudulent? What do you think of your fellow citizens?
3. "We have lost any credibility that we have gained because we did not do as we said that we would."
I would suggest the credibility was lost when a previous council voted to resurrect a by-law packed away in a basement for 130 years in order to invalidate clear deeds to property. I would further suggest that by taking the new situation into consideration, council has restored credibility, though not with your help.
"4. We buckled under pressure."
Council originally buckled under pressure from a few individuals who harangued the council for months to take this action. If there was any pressure brought today, it was by the Judges orders, not by any nonexistent bluster or intimidation by those effected by those orders.
5. "The road situation is not resolved and therefore can be brought up in the future with more costs associated with it."
Right you are Councillor. And the remedy is easy and free. Rescind not only the 2007 by-law, but the 1854 by-law upon which it is based.
You also said, "It became clear to me that the protesters at the meeting (who wanted this by-law rescinded) did not understand what the by-law says, so I have included it here."
Perhaps you would pass this along to Councillors McPherson, Shortt, Greenfield and Traynor.
Obviously you believe they don't understand what the by-law says, either.
Yours,
Kinder Essington, South Georgian Beach Road, Meaford
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