Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
Mr. Mantle, meet the mayor
Elizabeth Howson has been Uxbridge Township's expert planning consultant for a good many years. She is the principal planning expert at Macauley Shiomi Howson Ltd., and has been involved in the municipal planning field for close to 40 years.
Mayor Gerri Lynn O'Connor, one of Canada's longest serving mayors, has known and worked with Ms. Howson for a long time. The mayor is also known as a fierce defender of township staff and those who work with them, and as one who will brook no unwarranted criticism of them.
Ward 4 councillor Jacob Mantle should have taken these factors into consideration before taking swipes Monday night at Ms. Howson and others over their work in handling the residential development proposed for the north course of Foxbridge golf course. He didn't, however, and should consider himself lucky that the mayor let him off as lightly as she did when she came to Ms. Howson's defence. Maybe she did that because the Toronto Star quoted her on Christmas Day as saying about Mr. Mantle: “I’d be happy to have him as my grandson.”
That quote might be suspect, since the same story said Ms. O'Connor was the mayor of Uxbridge "for the second time in her 26 years in local politics". That's rather like saying the Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup in the past. It doesn't tell the whole story.
But I digress: back to Mr. Mantle.
In the years that I have been attending Uxbridge council meetings, Monday night was the first time I recall any councillor - or mayor, for that matter - actually reading a prepared speech on an issue up for debate by council. But with a good number of residents from the Coral Creek subdivision on hand, I suppose the young councillor wanted to make a good impression on his constituents. He used the speech to decry a number of facets about the proposed development and announce his opposition to it - just the thing the Coral Creek residents wanted to hear. (And, as an aside, Mr. Mantle called for recorded votes when the bylaws came up for a vote, so that his constituents could plainly see he had voted against them.) But he finished by saying the planners had not given enough consideration to the Coral Creek residents' concerns in recommending council approve the necessary Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments.
Anyone who has ever read a report to council on planning matters by Ms. Howson knows how thorough she is. So thorough, in fact, that the report she presented on Monday was about 130 pages long. And the report included comments and concerns from a number of residents in Coral Creek and her responses to them - a full 19 pages. Mr. Mantle had a copy of the report: how could he say residents' concerns were not given consideration?
Mayor O'Connor chided Mr. Mantle, telling him that it was not fair to say Ms. Howson's report wasn't done in the best interests of the community. As I said, the young councillor should consider himself lucky. I have seen the mayor verbally skin others who would have the nerve to question the abilities or dedication of township staff and consultants. The mayor understands that members of council are fair game for criticism, warranted or unwarranted: it's part of the price to be paid for being in public office. But she stands up for those who are unable to defend themselves in the public forum.
As for Ms. Howson, having watched her before council many times over the years, I have rarely encountered anyone so unflappable. Any questions delivered to her are always answered fully, backed up by an incredible knowledge of provincial, regional and municipal rules, regulations and legislation governing the planning process. Such was the case on Monday.
It is laudable and understandable that Mr. Mantle wants to represent his Ward 4 constituents as best he can. If a large number of them are opposed to the proposed development, it is his duty to make their concerns known to council. If he is personally opposed to the development, it is his right to say so.
Mr. Mantle is young and so far has been doing a creditable job. However, although our councillors are elected to represent the various wards, their primary duty is to the township as a whole and they should consider what is best for the township, not just the ward.
The proposed development is rather small in scope - about 50 homes on 6.5 acres - but will bring in additional revenue to the town in the form of development charges and property taxes. With growth in Uxbridge severely limited by the Green Belt and the Oak Ridges Moraine, infilling within the urban boundary is necessary.
It seems to me that Mr. Mantle should keep that in mind instead of trying to play the NIMBY card to satisfy voters.
Tell me, am I wrong?
