LISTOWEL STUDENTS TRYING TO SAVE TREES

Listowel students have started a petition to protect trees and wildlife on a roughly 6 acre site that is proposed for residential development. The students and adult supporters have signed a petition to Perth County council aimed at leaving the naturalized area alone. This was reported in the Stratford Beacon Herald on Friday May 21, 2010 by Donal O'Connor. Letter writer Emily Qureshi, 12, said that cutting down another tree would be "committing a crime and you would rightfully belong in jail". Council defferred a decision on the subdivision proposal, agreeing more information on the trees is warranted. Councilor Bob McTavished asked whether the treed lot meets the definition of a woodlot in Perth County but received no definite answer. Dave Hanly, the county planning director, said North Perth had designated woodlots in the municipality some time ago but the site in question was not one of them. He advised council that preparation of a tree conservation plan could be made a condition for final approval fo the plan of subdivision. The Mayor said he felt something could be worked out. The issue will return to the county following a North Perth council meeting on June 14, 2010.
Redesignating the property from Industrial to Residential was earlier the subject of an Appeal to the Ontario Muncipal Board and was eventually withdrawn. An aerial photographof the property shows about half of it is covered with trees and bush. A public use trail runs just beyond the south property line. The area is many residential accept for the factory to the west.
There is also a an appeal of North Perth's By-Law No 2-2009, which the municipality has stated was just "Housekeeping" but in fact changes alot. Daivd Laidlaw has filed an appeal of section 76 which says THAT all woodlots that are between 1 hectare(2.47 acres) and 3.99 hectares(9.86acres) in size in the Wallace Ward and Elma Ward of the Municipality of North Perth shall be removed from the "Agricultural Zone(A) of by-law No 6-ZB-1999 and placed in the "Natural Environment Resources Zone Two(NRE2) of by-law No. 6-ZB-1999. NRE2 used to apply to woodlots 4 hectares or larger. The permitted uses are conservation,forestry,maple syrup production and existing recreational trails Mr Laidlaw does not feel that the rezoning of his property is appropriate and that the Municipality should not be able to tell him what he can do on his own land epspecially his woodlot. The hearing is scheduled for June 8, 2010 at the Municipal office at 11 am.

WHAT STARTED THIS......OR WHO ???? AND WHY

At the time of applying for a residential renovation permit for the one room in my building, the Municipality had a CAO who was running by the seat of his pants. He was responsible for many problems and now many lawsuits and Council and the Mayor let him have full run of the Municipality. Okay I just sugar coated that and I must be honest, he was doing alot of things illegally and if it was not for the people that stood up to him, he would still be here. He was a piece of work. And unfortunately he was given the golden handshake by the Municipality and moved on to another community where he lasted 14 weeks and was given the boot. That community caught on quickly.
When I received the huge price for my permit I contacted all Council Members, the Mayor and then I foolishly put my faith in this CAO and trusted him when he said he would take my issue to council and fix the problem. This CAO must have thought "I was just a girl" because this started the big farce and my 5 year learning experience. I requested information from him which he either never gave me or gave me information that was not correct. He never took my issue to council to correct, he wanted to make sure that he could extort the permit money out of me. A meeting was arranged and it took place in my store with the Mayor, the Clerk, a Council Member and the not invited Building Inspector. The Building Inspector was told his presence was not welcome, but he was allowed in anyway. I foolishly assumed this meeting would be the way to get this problem fixed. It was not. The Building Inspector tried to say I had changed the Zoning on my property when I had it reassessed. No one appeared to know anything about Development Charges and although minutes of the meeting were taken by the Clerk, they are still unavailable to this day. At least to me. When I received the reply letter from the Municpality about the meeting I was confused and called the municipality for an explanation. The meeting was for an exemption from development charges,something I never requested.I always new development charges did NOT apply to a one room residential renovation.My next step was to contact the Ontario Municipal Board.
I wanted to be able to use my rights and be able to bring my issue in front of council myself, which is procedure. I was not allowed to speak about my issue but was requested at 5:45 on a Friday to speak in front of council the following Monday night on how development charges related to my community as a whole. I did take the chance to speak in front of council only to let them know I am not an expert on the development charges as they relate to my community as a whole.I was pretty angry at this point after listening to council joke about putting $700,000.00 in to fill pot holes when our community needed sewers. Again the CAO used this to continue to cover his tracts and would not be doing a review of residential development charges. Something I never request and my speach was not about that. When the Clerk was confronted she said she was just told to get me there. I then firmly stated I would be filing with the Ontario Municpal Board and I paid the fee and filed it myself. Within 2 weeks the Buildiing Inspector, the By Law Officer and a Police Officer show up at my store with a customer inside to execute a search warrant on me to see if any renovations had been done. None had been, but a few days later on the front door of the store was a Stop Work order and and Order to Comply. This all because a town employe saw a Bell Technician putting in the second phone line for the buidling. It was at this point that I new this was going to be bigger and I was right. It is now 5 years later and I have paid dearly for standing up for what is right. Would I do it again???? Yes, in a heart beat. IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO..........

THE COST OF BEING A CHANGE AGENT FOR THE COMMUNITY

When I purchased my property in 2005 I was looking forward to my new business venture with such enthusiasm, a feeling that was very quickly deadened never to return. I was finally going to be my own boss and open the store I had been dreaming of for years. I worked many long hard hours to clean up and repaint, restoring an old building to the all it's glory, new lighting, new shelves and then the inventory. I had a great time visiting auction sales looking for the perfect antiques for the store. I had consignments from all over Ontario and locally. Some very unique and one of a kind objects, my own line of jams and preserves, another of my passions. All was great and I had a wonderful customers from all over Ontario,out of province and several from the United States. It was the perfect location and with the business starting to take off I moved on to the next part of my business plan. I was getting ready to renovate the second floor, which I was told when I purchased my property was the residential part of the property and was so looking forward to living above my store and waking up each morning and just walking down the stairs to my job, being able to just run up the stairs for lunch or anything I needed. In December of 2006 after many months of planning I applied for a residential renovation permit for one room on the second floor so the renovation could get started. And this is when my whole life was turned upside down and my new job of CHANGE AGENT FOR THE COMMUNITY began.
When I asked the building inspector (and I use that term loosely) what the cost was going to be I was floored to hear it would be $5000.00 plus. For one room?????? This cost included development charges. Having done many renovations and building a 2000 sq.ft home I new something was not right and decided to stand up and say so. I now understand why people do not stand up, but that could be the problem they should. Change never happens if no one tries. It takes but one voice....."The Municipality may by law impose a development charge against "land" to pay for services not already being paid for through taxation". The building in question was constructed somewhere between 1860 and 1880 and had been paying, through taxation for services it did not receive for many years. This began my research and subsequent filing and mediation with the Ontario Municipal Board.
It was wonderful dealing with the Ontario Municipal Board. They were helpful understanding and spoke a language that I understood. They helped me through the whole process and made mediation an alot easier than I thought. The only problem from mediation was that the Municipality got it's hand slapped and were told that development charges did not apply to my one room renovations and this made them mad, they would not go by the decision. This forced me to ask for a full hearing to force the Municipality to go by the ruling. And the war began.......next, the lengths a Municipality will go to when caught in a lie

SPECIAL MESSAGE TO HACKER

DEAR MR OR MRS COWARD HACKER.
PLEASE GET A LIFE BECAUSE IN THE REAL WORLD IF YOU HAD ENOUGH GUTS TO COME UP AND TELL ME YOU THINK MY BLOG SHOULD BE GONE WE COULD TALK ABOUT THE REASONS I AM DOING THIS. MY MUNICIPALITY HAS ILLEGALLY MADE MY LIFE A NIGHTMARE ON EARTH AND CONTINUES TO AND I BELIEVE IN FAIR AND EVEN. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE A COMMENT YOU ARE WELCOME TO BUT REMEMBER IT IS ONLY THE COMPUTER AND THE INTERNET......THERE IS MORE TO LIFE



P.S WARNING MOTHER OF MANY CHILDREN, STRESSED, OVERWORKED, SICK AND TIRED AND NOT THE WOMAN YOU WHAT TO FIND IN A DARK ALLEY.

PLEASE BE ADVISED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS WEEKS RANT... AND IT IS NOT GOOD

WELCOME BACK TO THE NORTH PERTH ADVOCATE IF YOU ARE ABLE TO FIND IT. HOPEFULLY THE HACKER HAS NOT STOPPED ME FROM GETTING THE TRUTH OUT.
IT HAS NOW BEEN 5 YEARS TODAY SINCE I PURCHASED MY PROPERTY AND THE DREAM OF RUNNING MY OWN BUSINESS AND HAVING A PROPERTY TO MAKE MY HOME BEGAN. I WRITE THIS NOW BECAUSE TODAY I WAS REMINDED THIS IS MY BLOG AND I CAN BLOG ABOUT ANYTHING. I WAS ALSO REMINDED TODAY ABOUT THE MANY THINGS MY MUNICIPALITY HAS DONE TO STOP ME FROM DOING WAHT IT IS THAT MY PROPERTY IS AND THE QUESTION "Why are you still harming me" I PURCHASED A PROPERTY LEGALLY AND FOLLOWED THE RULES AND I AM NO FARTHER AHEAD THAN WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE HAD SEARCH WARRANTS,STOP WORK ORDERS, ORDERS TO COMPLY, FINES AND A TAX BILL THAT WAS BEHIND A FEW THOUSAND DOLLLARS THAT IS NOW IN THE TENS OFF THOUSANDS BECAUSE THE MUNICIPALTY CAN DO WHAT IT WANTS AND IS. NO ACCOUNTABILITY AND NO WAY OTHER THAN THE COURTS TO MAKE THEM ACCOUNTABLE. HOW IS THAT RIGHT THAT MY MUNICICPALITY CAN TAKE MY PROPERTY ESPECIALLY IN THESE HARD ECONOMIC TIMES. I WAS PAYING ON MY TAXES BUT BECAUSE I STAND UP FOR MY RIGHTS AND THE RIGHTS OF MY FELLOW TAXPAYERS I TAKE THE ABUSE THAT THE MUNICIPALITY THROWS AT ME. TODAY I SAY THAT THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR OF THE MUNICICPALITY OF NORTH PERTH SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES, EXTREMELY ASHAMED. THIS IS NOT HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS. AND AS I AM EXTREMELY KNOWN FOR THIS IS IT WILL NOT BE OVER UNTIL THINGS ARE FAIR AND EVEN, AND I WILL BE HERE AND STILL GOING UNTIL.......... THINGS ARE FAIR AND EVEN
COUNT ON IT
AND AGAIN JUST MY OPINION
SHERRIE

CODE OF CONDUCT-NOT IN NORTH PERTH

The Code of Conduct was again brought in front of North Perth Council meeting on Monday May 17, 2010 and again was defeated in a recorded tie vote of 5-5. Those in favour were Deputy Mayor Julie Behrns and Councilors Jeff Bannerman,Dave Johnston, Randy Pettapiece and Meredith Schneider. Those against were Mayor Hollinger Councilors Paul Horn,Doug Kellum, Robert Martin and Terry Seiler.
Those opposed to the Code of Conduct said it was a duplicate of information already in the Municipal Act and Conflict of Interest Act. But the Code of Conduct was in a concise form with the intention of having all the relevant information from each lengthy document in one document and make it easier to digest. Having read the document and past experience with the Municipality it does not surprise me it was not passed. Some of the people voting against it have clearly in the past broken most of the rules of the Conduct of Conduct. Other communities have adopted a Code of Conduct. It would have been prudent for this council to have adopted this for future councils. Unless they really think they are all getting voted back in !!!!!!!!

WALKERTON...TEN YEARS LATER WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED

It has been 10 years since the Walkerton Water Tragedy and we are here 10 years later and what have we learned. We have learned that people when not forced to go by the law or forced to be accountable make big mistakes. And we really do not want such a big mistake to happen again. Big mistakes can change peoples lives forever and in some causes kill you.
It is good that the issue is again back in the public. The quality of someones water can affect their life and the Municipalities who are in charge of the water going to everyones tap needs to be held accountable, and not only to the Ontario Water Source Protection Agency and their laws and guidelines to make sure that we are getting the quality of water we are paying so much for. But also to the taxpayer who is paying for the water and possibly may become sick in the future because someone made a mistake.
again just my opinion

REAPPOINT ANDRE MARIN AS OMBUDSMAN

Andre Marin the Ombudsman of Ontario has been given a 6 month extension of his position as the head of the Ombudsmans office. His contract ended in March and the government is taking applications and is interviewing for the position. Andre Marin has shown that he can fullfil his position of Ombudsman and has done a great job showing mistakes that the ogvernment agengies are making. He also introduced the Sunshine Law that makes Muncipalities accountable for what is discussed behind closed doors at Municipal council meetings. He has also requested to be given the authority from the government to introduce the MUSH progam and investigate further agencies that are able to run without any accountablitiy or transparency. MUSH stands for MUNICIPALITIES,UNIVERSITIES,SCHOOL BOARDS and UNIVERSITIES. A petition has been started to voice taxpayers concern, that we want this watch dog that does such a good job to be reapointed.

WE,THE UNDERSIGNED,CALL ON THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT TO REAPPOINT ANDRE MARIN AS THE OMBUDSMAN FOR THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO FOR ANOTHER TERM.
The petition can be found at the following link.

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/reappoint-andre-marin-as-ombudsman-of-ontario.html

I encourage all to sign this petition and let the government know we want to keep Andre Marin as the Ombudsman of Ontario

MUNICIPALITY OF NORTH PERTH ARE YOU LISTENING

INTEGRITY
FAIRNESS
RESPONSIBILITY
PERSERVERANCE
OPTIMISM
COURAGE
RESPECT
COMPASSION
EMPATHY
HONESTY
INCLUSION


A COMMUNITY OF CHARACTER...........???????
Municipality of North Perth's Motto????????

OMBUDSMANS OFFICE AND THE SUNSHINE LAW

The Provinces Sunshine law is a public complaints system to enforce the requirement that ALL municipal meetings be held in public. It was intoduced by Andre Marin the Ombudsman for Ontario.
Having now received the final report of my complaint against my municipality I would like to share part of the findings.
"The reason for the request is with regards to the refund of money charged to connect to another Municipal well for the property and whether this fee should have been charged under the circumstances"
Findings
"My review of the minutes indicate that there were 3 items discussed during the in camera meeting of July 20,2009. One of these items dealt with a report from the Municipal lawyer concerning an employment related litigation. A second matter dealt with the location of the proposed new firehall. The third matter of discussion involved a request from Ms. McTaggart to the municipality for the refund of $3500.00 previously paid for a water hook up. In my interview with Ms. Mctaggart she expressed concern that her request for reimbursement was discussed in closed session when it should not have been"
" The minutes of the closed session indicate discussion pertaining to the request of a refund. The Council was informed that the well in question was the property of the Ministry of Transportation and not the Municipality. Council agreed it would pass a resolution to deny the request" "That Council for the Municipality of North Perth dismissed the request to refund Municipal water connection fees as requested and that council directs the Director Finance/Treasurer to repond in writing"
Opinion of Gregory Stewart - Investigator
"The matter was clear and concise"
"It is my opinion as an investigator that the item concerning Ms.McTaggart's request for reimbursement of funds was not a matter that should have been considered and discussed in closed session. This request does not fall under any of the categories which outline matters for which discussion and debate can occur in closed session. The request for refund does not properly fall under security of the property of the municipality nor does it fall under the category of litigation. There had been no legal action by Ms.McTaggart with repect to the refund"
"The fact that a matter is controversial, or that discussing the matter in public may be awkward,does not justify discussing the matter in closed session"
This report has been made public by the Municipality and is now public knowledge that the Municipality does discuss things behind closed doors when they shouldn't. My issues with the Municipality have always been discussed behind closed doors which explains all the lies and why they have been able to get away with what they have. In future posts I will possibly discuss some of the issues in hopes that it may help someone else through the maze we call municipal politics. As a side note the contaminated well in question was never owned by the Ministry of Transportation and has always been owned by the Municipality. It has now been proven by the MTO.

THIS WEEKS RANT

In Monday nights agenda package (which is somtimes on time for reading and sometimes not)was the Municipality of North Perth"s new Code of Conduct Policy. A very well put together document that would hold all employees,council members, Mayor, committee members etc to a very strict Code of Conduct.Something they should already be doing in my opinion. But when it came to a vote it was a tie 5-5. As stated by the Mayor in the Listowel Banner article by Andrew Smith "he has attended several sessions on codes of conduct, and found that most of the rules and regulations are already held within seperate legislations such as the Ontario Municipal Act, Municipal Election Act and the Conflict of Interest Act. In addition, members of council have already swore to uphold those rules."" Introducing a code of conduct is just tinkering with the laws that are already in place, so the need is not evident to me." The article stated that the deputy mayor is for it and as are some council members.
Having read the code of conduct I am not sure why the Mayor would not think it was not a good idea.It is a clear and concise document that can be enforced and hold the people wasting my tax dollars accountable. Does the Mayor have someting to hide or does he not think he could follow the code of conduct? Past performance shows he has not followed any code of conduct. There are minimal checks and balances to ensure that municpal government act in accordance with any of the laws. People have few resources in provincial government to turn to when issues arise and are left to there own devices. For many the cost is prohibitive facing an opponent with deep pockets and seemingly nothing to lose. We are left to defend ourselves against a corporate-orcracy whose management is accountable to no one. A Code of Conduct is long overdue in North Perth and hopefully when it comes back to council for a recorded vote that it be adopted and implemented.
Just my opinion........

WELCOME TO THE NORTH PERTH ADVOCATE

Welcome to the North Perth Advocate.
My name is Sherrie McTaggart and for the last few years I have be forced to learn a lot about Municipal Government. Some of it has been good but some of it is not. I hope with this blog to not only help fellow taxpayers through the beauracy but to also bring to light some of things about Municipal Government that need to be changed. I also want to have an open forum on many issues and welcome all opinions, but I will be holding all comments and opinions to a very strict code of conduct and will not tolerate the misuse of this blog. This is not meant to make personal attacks on people, it is to bring the issues out and have an open honest discussion about the issues. I thank all who pushed me to do this and they know who they are and I look forward to your wonderful insight here. I look forward to this and a very Happy Mothers Day to all. It takes but one voice..................