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04 29 2000 SpCouncil Minutes :,.; <<. -' . e THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF ORO-MEDONTE SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING Guthrie Arena Saturday, April 29, 2000 TIME: 9:05 a.m. Council met this morning @ 9:05 a.m. with the following members present: Present: Mayor Ian Beard Deputy Mayor Don Bell Councillor Lillian McConnell Councillor Ralph Hough Councillor Neil Craig Councillor Ron Sommers Councillor Ruth Fountain (arrived at 9:30 a.m.) Staff Present: Jennifer Zieleniewski, CAO/Treasurer Also Present: Tom Kurtz, Ingrid Vander-Marel, D. G. Brown, C. Callow, D. Munro, K. Lewis, Linda Gilbert, Nancy & Jack Haggerty, Brian Niddery, Carlton Waddling, Renee Raphael, Isabel Shepard, Milton Dale, C. McGill, Joelle Kovach (Packet & Times), Jack Fountain, Charlie & Lena Simpson, S. Thompson-Kort, J. & S. Speare. J. Drysdale, Glenn Meenwisse, Joanne & Larry Reesor, Scott Morrison, Anna Small-Adams, G. Lancast, Ross Hickling, Jean Caldwell, Betty Partridge, Olive & Arthur Charles, Peter Lougheed, Jeff Maize, June McGuire, Steffie & Dickmar Steinke, Lorne & Marguerite Handy, Esther Wilson, Shirley Partridge, Garth Daniels, Phyllis Carlyle, Linda Ross Stringer, Carolyn & Paul Davis, Ted Malchuk, D. McGurrin, N. Mirza, Ambrose Delcourt, Paul Marshall, David Davis, Tom Scott, Katalin Toth, Elaine & Ken Joyce, Vern & Sylvia Telford, Tom Sharpe, Ed Hall 1. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST AND THE GENERAL NATURE THEREOF -IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT None. Mayor Beard called the meeting to order and explained the purpose of the meeting with respect to Official Plan Amendment No.5 and the Edgar Centre. He advised that all persons present would be afforded the opportunity of asking questions. Councillor Craig explained Amendment NO.5 further and provided background information on the Edgar Centre property. Mayor Beard indicated that two letters were received from Mr. Murray Martin and Mr. Carlton Waddling which will be taken into consideration with all other correspondence received in this regard. Mayor Beard turned the meeting over to the public for comments. Mr. Ed Hall asked what the basis of the OMB appeal is and what the position is of the people who initiated the appeal. Councillor Craig provided information about a neighbouring property owner having concern about future development of the site. ,''i Mayor Beard indicated that the Horseshoe Valley Ratepayers group has asked to withdraw this amendment. . Mr. Arthur Charles of Cathedral Pines asked for clarification as to what is happening with this property. He commented that he has heard many rumors and wanted some concrete information. Mayor Beard and Councillor Craig gave an overview of the process which is underway at present with respect to the sale of this site, and indicated that the purpose of this meeting is to seek public input as to what the public want to see happen here; is there enough interest and justifiable reason for the Township to consider purchasing this property, what are the avenues to be considered to ensure that the Township has some control over the use of the property, etc. Ms. Doreena (?) of Horseshoe Highlands presented ideas drafted up by several neighbours. One suggestion was that the Oro-Medonte Township Offices should relocate to the site, that the swimming facilities be put to use, and other buildings used for senior groups, crafting groups, etc. She indicated that it would be desirable for the site to be used by people in the community rather than some outside conglomerate coming in. Mr. Carlton Waddling of the Horseshoe Valley Property Owners Association explained that the group has asked the Ontario Realty Corp. to take the site off the market and return it to the Township. Some suggestions were put forth regarding use, ie. a training centre for Ontario athletes for baseball, soccer, basketball, etc. There could be a conference centre, and an administration centre. He indicated that Mr. Murray Martin has written suggesting a sports facility. He asked that the public come forward in support of the Township's efforts to acquire the Edgar property. Mr. Brian Niddery of Highland Drive suggested a first class golf campus. He felt that people attending a golf campus would be spending a lot of money in the area. Since the buildings appear to be valueless other than for seasonal use, a golf campus would serve that purpose very well. He commented on the value of the land being increased due to the potential uses of the site. The original use was temporary, and the use should have reverted back to that rather than assessing the value of the land on potential permanent uses. He gave an overview of the process of evaluating land, etc. It's not really what's already there, but also what the buyer anticipates doing with the property. Councillor Sommers provided information as to what the Township has considered in the past for usage of the property, as well as the fact that not only would the purchaser be looking at the purchase price, but the many dollars that would have to be spent to get "the place up and running". Partnerships would possibly have to be looked into to make purchasing feasible. Councillor Hough supported the fact that a considerable amount of money would have to be spent to bring any of the buildings up to standard for permanent use. He also supported partnerships as a possibility. . Councillor McConnell supported the idea of moving the Administration Centre to the Edgar site for various reasons. She expressed concern about partnerships as to who becomes responsible in certain matters. She commented that the administration of the site would have to be done by more than just the Township Council. There would always be a question of favouritism, legalitiess, etc. Councillor McConnell also asked about partnerships and how they would work. What would the role of Council be in a partnership situation? Mr. Waddling indicated that he would look forward to partnerships with private enterprises so that the Township could make use of the recreational facilities. :i " H Mr. Vern Telford commented on eco issues and trends. He feels that the Edgar site is compatible with the current eco movement. . Ms. Phyllis Carlyle, Legal Counsel for the Regional Municipality of York, indicated that the Municipal Act changed three years ago to permit partnerships. She feels that the appeal with respect to Amendment No.5 is premature and should be reconsidered. Ms. Carlyle suggested that the Township should consult with the Ontario Realty Corporation to attempt to negotiate a reduction in the cost of the property. She suggested that the site be considered for recreational facilities and incorporate this with the Recreation Master Plan, and suggested that a professional audit would need to be done to ascertain the feasibility of purchasing this land. Councillor Hough gave an overview of the actions taken to date by the Township of Oro-Medonte in response to Ms. Carlyle's presentation. He commented on discussions occurring with the County and others regarding usage of the property, etc. He supported Council in being very active in considering the issues before them. Mr. Jack Haggerty questioned the nature of the discussions with the Ontario Realty Corporation and how many times had Council met with them. He asked whether the Township had put anything in writing expressing interest in purchasing the property. Councillor Hough responded by providing an overview of actions taken to date by Council, and Mr. Craig added information as to discussions with the O.R.C. requesting more time to provide an opportunity to meet with the public for their input. He indicated that there has been no written response to discussions in this regard. Mr. David Brown queried what positive actions have been taken by Council on this issue. He asked for some positive feedback in order to encourage the public, rather than just hear about the poor condition of the buildings etc. Mayor Beard responded that the buildings are there, the infrastructure is there, the sewage plant is there, and he spoke about partnership vs. single ownership, and administering either situation. Mr. Tom Sharpe of Horseshoe Highlands felt that everything that has been suggested has been ill received thus far, and he expressed concern about the public being in a "no win" situation. He suggested that not many people in the community have any idea what is available at the Edgar facility, and is concerned that nothing definitive has been made available and nothing has been published as to who has made presentations and the opinions expressed, etc. It has not been made public as to who has put offers in on the property and what those offers were. Councillor Craig responded with information regarding a request to the ORC to host an open house on the site for the general public to go in and tour the facility, but to his knowledge there has been no response to this suggestion. Councillor Hough indicated that no-one is privileged to know who else has bid on the property and what amount the bid was for. The Township is no different than any other enterprise as far as negotiating the purchase of the Edgar property. The Council cannot provide answers to Mr. Sharpe's concerns because they have no more information than anyone else. It was emphasized that this meeting is an information/suggestion gathering session for the purpose of determining how the facility might best, if at all, benefit the residents of the Township of Oro-Medonte. . Mr. Niddery suggested the need for a better assessment as to the real value of the land and that it might be a good investment for the Township to hire a professional appraiser to provide information as to options, I.e. the cost to dispose of the existing buildings, etc. The suggestion was put forth to form a Committee, including members of Council and residents, to study in-depth some viable ideas for the Township. Mayor Beard pointed out that the time frame in this situation is an unknown and it remains in the hands of the Ontario Realty Corporation. The Township has requested that Mr. Garfield Dunlop, MPP, also look into this situation. Mr. Jack Haggerty of Horseshoe Valley suggested that Council should become more entrepreneurial in their views for usage of the Edgar property. He supported the idea of forming a committee to draw together and negotiate the usage for the site. He felt that this could be a positive approach to achieve a positive end. He urged Council not to let this opportunity pass by and to take action in order to secure the Township's position with respect to Edgar. . Councillor Sommers commented that he would like to see more time available from ORC to deal with some of the issues that have been talked about; however, an extended period of time will not do the condition of the buildings on the site any good. Time has already taken its toll on the buildings. While most of the damage appears to be superficial, there could also be structural damage due to lack of heat, etc. The buildings may not survive another winter. Jack Haggerty pointed out that the facility is not ours as yet, and the deterioration becomes the problem of the buyer. He also pointed out that he wasn't inferring that the municipality purchase the property, but with the help of the MPP, perhaps we should be able to get the property given back to the municipality for $1. Councillor Sommers commented that this suggestion had already been presented to ORC with no positive result. Jack Fountain expressed concern about the infrastructure having deteriorated and therefore the property isn't really worth anything. He suggested that it would be a mistake for Council to look at buying the property as it would cost too much to bring it up to standard. He suggested that it should be left to the ORC to see what they can do with the property. Ms. Anna Small-Adams of Horseshoe Valley and Scott Morrison, Administrator of the Sheila Morrison College School presented details of the school located in Essa Township and the possibility of looking at providing a private school situation for students from Hong Kong to learn English as a second language at the Edgar site. There are at least one hundred students ready to come here, with the possibility of as many as five hundred students. Mr. Morrison pointed out that the facility could be shared with the community, Le. recreation uses, etc. Ms. Small-Adams indicated that this would be completely different from the proposal of having the aboriginal people coming to the site. They are looking at an educational venue as opposed to a residential venue. Councillor Hough was impressed with this proposal but pointed out that the ORC has not been able to let people in to see the buildings, and therefore the idea may be premature. Ms. Small-Adams commented that they have had great difficulty getting information from the ORC and have been unsuccessful for the most part. She pointed out that the Edgar property is on the MLS system even though it is not officially on the market at this time, and that it has generated a tremendous amount of interest in the real estate field. . Mayor Beard questioned whether the Township should control the situation through the Official Plan Amendment No.5 and the Planning process, or should the Township buy the property. He again gave an overview of the purpose of this meeting, to gather ideas and information from the public as to possible usage of the Edgar property. Councillor Fountain indicated that no matter how much time it takes, she wants to see the facility put to the best use for the Township and its residents. Mayor Beard again suggested that Council needs the public input, and questioned should the Township purchase the property or let it go to the open market. Councillor Sommers indicated that if the property is left to the open market, Council will have little control over who submits bids on it and who would be the successful bidder. Councillor Fountain asked Mr. Morrison if an apprenticeship program could be a partnership with the school proposal. Mr. Morrison agreed that it would be a viable possibility. Ii H '." Mr. D. McGurrin wanted to know if there was any way to go past the ORC and go directly to Premiere Harris. He feels strongly that since the government closed the facility and left it up to the Township to deal with, perhaps the ORC shouldn't have so much control over the outcome of the situation. Mayor Beard suggested that people write to their local MP. . Mr. Tom Sharpe indicated that he does not believe that the First Nations' issue with respect to the Edgar site is finished. He has heard nothing further as to where their proposal was moved to, and he commented that they made excellent presentations to Council. He believes that the First Nations' will eventually be successful with Edgar. Mayor Beard said that the property would have to go on the open market, and people would have to write to their local MP with any concerns they may have. Mr. Ed Hall expressed his opinion that the least cost and the most effective move that Council could make would be to purchase the property using Amendment No.5. He was grateful for the opportunity to receive information through a public meeting such as this. Mr. Brian Niddery asked if it would be possible to form a partnership committee with residents and Council members to study this issue further, and finally decide whether or not to purchase the property. Councillor Sommers indicated that we have to wait for a response from ORC as to a time frame before the property goes to open market. If time allowed, a committee would be beneficial. Mr. Niddery commented that it would seem in the best interest of the Township to form this committee right now and start working on it. Deputy Mayor Don Bell reminded everyone present that Council will be meeting again in the very near future on this matter and will decide where we are going. At that time a course of action will be determined and perhaps a committee will be part of the plan. Mr. Milton Dale commented that since a lot of the recommendations for usage of the Edgar site are for recreational purposes, perhaps it would be cheaper and more beneficial to have recreational facilities in various areas of the Township rather than to purchase the Centre. It would be more practical to have recreational facilities throughout the Township rather than consider the Edgar site, considering the cost to update the buildings there. He supported Amendment No.5 and the thought to allow private enterprise look after the Edgar site. He indicated that smaller centres around the municipality would be cheaper than purchasing and upgrading the Edgar property. Councillor Craig encouraged anyone who may be interested in assisting Council in some way in the future with respect to the Edgar site decision to leave their name with the Clerk. He indicated that this did not mean that the aforementioned committee would be formed, but it would be helpful for Council to have a list of names of people who want to be a part of this decision. Councillor Hough supported this suggestion and encouraged residents to feel free to talk to Council members about this matter. Motion No.1 " . Moved by McConnell, Seconded by Hough Be it resolved that the agenda for the Special Council Meeting dated Saturday, April 29, 1000 be adopted as printed and circulated. Carried. Motion No.2 Moved by Hough, Seconded by McConnell Be it resolved that a By-law to confirm the proceedings of the Special Council Meeting held on Saturday, April 29, 2000 be introduced and read a first and second time and numbered By-law No. 2000-32. Carried. . That By-law No. 2000-32 be read a third time and finally passed, be engrossed by the Clerk, signed and sealed by the Mayor. Carried. Motion No.3 Moved by Sommers, Seconded by Craig Be it resolved that we do now adjourn at 11 :00 a.m. Carried. A tape of the meeting is available for review. .