Letter to editor about development in Richmond

Stittstville News, May 13, 2010 - When things don't mix (click to see original article)

In the April 29th Stittsville News, city of Ottawa Rideau-Goulbourn ward councillor Glenn Brooks states there are 13 left of a 17 member steering committee for the Richmond Community Design Plan (CDP).  Well, some remember a starting group of 20 or 21 and the February and March minutes reflect only 10 attending.  There were only 7 in attendance at the May 5th meeting.  This decline in membership is due to frustration.

The May 5th meeting saw one reason why members are losing interest.  Chair David George wanted to argue with myself and Doug Arnold over the merits of tertiary treatment and who should invite a 'bid' by a tertiary treatment provider.  Clearly the onus is on either the city or the proponent Mattamy if this is a true CDP, not a proponent driven environmental assessment process.  It all goes back to the problem of mixing a CDP, the Mattamy environmental assessment and developer driven issues.  They do not mix.

Bruce Webster
Richmond CDP Steering Committee Member

Doug Arnold comments on Sewer Charge Adjustment for properties with no water services

Good afternoon all:

For those of you who are not on Councillor Brooks' email list I have attached an excerpt from the minutes for the Planning and Environment Committee (PEC) along with an excerpt of Councillor Brooks' Update, so that you can compare for yourself what Councillor Brooks is claiming Mr. Webster said at the PEC meeting about the "Sewer Adjustment - Richmond/Carp versus what Councillor Brooks is stating. It should also be noted that Councillor Brooks did not attend the PEC meeting as an interested Councillor. He is not a member of the PEC.

Doug Arnold

From the minutes of the April 13, 2010 meeting of the PEC.

11. SEWER CHARGE ADJUSTMENT FOR PROPERTIES WITH NO WATER SERVICES

AJUSTEMENT DES REDEVANCES D'ÉGOUTS POUR LES PROPRIÉTÉS SANS SERVICE D'EAU

ACS2010-CMR-FIN-0019 CITY WIDE/À L'ÉCHELLE DE LA VILLE

E-mail correspondence on this matter dated 10 April 2010 was received from Howard and Linda Healey, which is held on file with the City Clerk.

Bruce Webster, Richmond Village Association, was present in support of the recommendation.

He noted that the issue had been brought to the attention of the previous Councillor, and no action had resulted. He wished to thank the current Councillor for taking action on this matter, and commend staff for their quick response.

That the Planning and Environment Committee recommend Council:

1. Approve a credit program for current owners to offset or adjust the sewer service charges collected by property taxes for the period of ownership between 2001 and 2009 to be applied to the 2010 Final Tax Bills issued in May 2010.

2. That such credit program include interest and provision in the same manner as authorized by the Municipal Act Section 345 and Education Act Section 257.11 for overpayments.

3. That the estimated cost of this program in the amount of $797,000 be funded by the Sewer Reserve.

From: Councillor Glenn Brooks

Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2010 9:06 AM

To: douglasarnold@******.ca

Subject: Councillor's Update

Councillor's Update

Sewer Adjustment – Richmond/Carp:

To Tom Lischer who raised this issue with me back in 2008, the residents of Richmondand Carp owe you many thanks for your work in demonstrating the City's overcharge for sanitary services. In 2009, based on Tom's investigative labours, I was able to get about a 40% rate reduction. I then proceeded to request a further re-imbursement for previous years back to 2001. Staff agreed in principle and proposed the following:

1. A credit program for current owners to offset or adjust the sewer service charges collected by property taxes for the period of ownership between 2001 and 2009 to be applied to the 2010 Final Tax Bills issued in May 2010;

2. That such credit program include interest and provision in the same manner as authorized by the Municipal Act Section 345 and Education Act Section 257.11 for overpayments;

3. That the estimated cost of this program in the amount of 797,000 be funded by the Sewer Reserve;

4. Including previous owners will cost an additional $210,000 – the right thing to do!

I was very surprised that Mr. Webster spoke in favour of the PEC recommendations that would limit re-imbursement only to the current owners and only for 2 previous years I thought this unfair and thus, unacceptable!

(Full article:www.glennbrooks.ca)

Declared Candidate Bruce Webster meets with MPP Norm Sterling

Ottawa, May 7, 2010

Bruce Webster met today with MPP Norm Sterling to discuss how Ottawa can get better control of the Residential and Industrial Commercial Institutional (ICI) waste stream produced in Ottawa.   The reduction at both curbside and into the
landfills of residential waste is an objective we all share but until the province legislates NO ORGANICS in the ICI stream, there will be an issue.  ICI is about 70 % of the total waste stream and even when the residents hit the provincial objective of 60 % diversion, the landfills will still be an eyesore..

Ottawa needs to gather support for a wider solution perhaps encompassing the golden triangle of Cornwall, Bellville and Ottawa
with a concerted plan to turn non organics from waste to energy.  This should be a co-operative effort between the Province,
Municipalities and the Federal government, similar to the Federally initiated sewage clean up.

Sterling and Webster are both committed to working together when the opportunity arises to solve this issue
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