This is a picture of approximately 300 trees that were ripped out in one day by Highlands. Additionally Highlands has cut thousands and thousands of trees down in Melancthon without proper permits. In fact NDACT proved 9 contraventions of the bylaw by Highlands.
This should have been covered under the County tree cutting bylaw, however County staff, specifically Caroline Mach, at her own discretion and without the knowledge of Council, gave non-existent exemptions to this company for cutting.
For two years, commencing in the spring of 2007, residents of Melancthon continually contacted Caroline Mach, the County Forester to advise of tree cutting and as late as January 2009 Caroline continued to tell individuals who called and emailed that she knew of no excessive tree cutting in Melancthon.
For two years, commencing in the spring of 2007, residents of Melancthon continually contacted Caroline Mach, the County Forester to advise of tree cutting and as late as January 2009 Caroline continued to tell individuals who called and emailed that she knew of no excessive tree cutting in Melancthon.
In fact I called and was told the tree cutting was exempt under the bylaw for agriculture and when I called back after reading the bylaw to say no such exemption was in the bylaw and she concurred.
When Caroline and County Councillors were questioned at various public meetings why exemptions that were not provided for in the bylaw were given by staff, no satisfactory explanations were ever given. Caroline stated it had been her practice to provide these non-existent exemptions for at least 15 years. County Councillors admitted they had no idea this was going on.
Bylaws are public documents and are passed at public meetings. Ratepayers, who pay Council and staff to implement and enforce bylaws, should expect that what they read in the bylaw as passed by Council should be the law. This does not appear to be the case at the County of Dufferin.
When County Council was questioned as to the amount of the fine as provided for in the bylaw would be imposed on Highlands for illegally cutting the trees in contravention of the bylaw, Council stated it had never been their practice to actually fine anyone.
When Caroline and County Councillors were questioned at various public meetings why exemptions that were not provided for in the bylaw were given by staff, no satisfactory explanations were ever given. Caroline stated it had been her practice to provide these non-existent exemptions for at least 15 years. County Councillors admitted they had no idea this was going on.
Bylaws are public documents and are passed at public meetings. Ratepayers, who pay Council and staff to implement and enforce bylaws, should expect that what they read in the bylaw as passed by Council should be the law. This does not appear to be the case at the County of Dufferin.
When County Council was questioned as to the amount of the fine as provided for in the bylaw would be imposed on Highlands for illegally cutting the trees in contravention of the bylaw, Council stated it had never been their practice to actually fine anyone.
Further, Warden Montgomery stated: "Council has to support staff and staff said it was allowed."
A member of NDACT challenged by asking, "Are you saying the infractions were not proven?" to which the Warden responded, "No."
Then the esteemed Mayor of Orangeville stated AND I AM QUOTING YOU VERBATUM Mr. Adams: “staff have done their job and it isn’t up to ratepayers or County Council to question them.”
Wow, I have heard of a kangaroo court and but this is a new one, perhaps it should be called a Dufferin Democracy?
During this entire discussion at County Council Melancthon's Mayor Fawcett, did not ask ONE single question or make one comment.
At this same meeting, Mayor Crewson, despite having taken part in tree discussions involving Highlands at other County meetings, decided the going was getting too hot for him and he might actually lose some business from Highlands if he voted to fine them money for their illegal tree cutting, stood up and made a grand pronouncement that suddenly he was declaring a pecuniary interest due to Highlands being his client at his insurance company.
So lets see, Crewson can take part in discussions to help “his golden boy” Lowndes, for several months, right up until the hard decisions need to be made and then suddenly pull the old pecuniary interest out of his hat and refuse to participate in the discussion any longer, conveniently protecting his livelihood and his children’s futures.
During this entire discussion at County Council Melancthon's Mayor Fawcett, did not ask ONE single question or make one comment.
At this same meeting, Mayor Crewson, despite having taken part in tree discussions involving Highlands at other County meetings, decided the going was getting too hot for him and he might actually lose some business from Highlands if he voted to fine them money for their illegal tree cutting, stood up and made a grand pronouncement that suddenly he was declaring a pecuniary interest due to Highlands being his client at his insurance company.
So lets see, Crewson can take part in discussions to help “his golden boy” Lowndes, for several months, right up until the hard decisions need to be made and then suddenly pull the old pecuniary interest out of his hat and refuse to participate in the discussion any longer, conveniently protecting his livelihood and his children’s futures.
Too bad those of us who actually live in Melancthon (did I mention that Lowndes doesn’t) can’t actually do that too, Mr. Crewson.
More in another post sometime on (in my opinion) another questionable decision Crewson made.
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