BUSINESS AS USUAL IN MELANCTHON

On January 5, 2010 I reported that Melancthon would be passing a demolition control bylaw at the January 7, 2010 meeting of Council.

Why did I report that? Well because it had been listed on their December 17 agenda and posted on their website that comments were required on or before January 4.

AND the bylaw was listed on the January 7 agenda.

Well, sorry to get everyones hopes up, but here is what actually transpired:

Highlands obtained 3 more demolition/burn permits in December, bringing their total to 20;

Nominations opened January 4 and Bill Hill filed his nomination papers for Mayor and sent out a two page information sheet to all voters, I mean ratepayers in Melancthon advising why he could provide the LEADERSHIP needed in Melancthon;

Comments were received at the January 7 meeting of Council from ratepayers supporting the demolition control bylaw and one letter from Highlands highly paid Bay Street lawfirm threatening to sue Melancthon from here to kingdom come if they pursed the demolition control bylaw;

Council, who clearly were more swayed by the threats of a lawsuit, than letters of support from their ratepayers decided to "defer" passing the bylaw until more comments were received.

In my opinion, Council is holding off until Highlands gets all the permits they need to blast, burn and bulldoze everything they own, THEN Council will pass the demolition control bylaw saying, see, we provided leadership and did what ratepayers ask....and oh yeah, please vote for me.

Remember, Council was asked months and months ago to implement this bylaw and our Mayoralty Candidate Hill advised it would not work and ratepayers were wrong. Well clearly, it has struck a nerve with Highlands, who knows what all of us, except Council seems to, that there are ways to fight this in advance of an application.

Perhaps Highlands should run for Mayor-they know more than the current countil and they already really run the show.