Heated debate over way Nov. 6 vote was handled
By ALAN LICZYK Staff Reporter

The handling of the vote on population forecasts resulted in the most heated debate of Caledon council this year last Tuesday.

It included Councillor Annette Groves suggesting at one point that Mayor Marolyn Morrison should consider resigning.

Groves wanted the Nov. 6 vote revisited because she didn't realize there was a clause added to the motion that stated council continues to support the 2021 population forecast of 84,444. She and all the other council members voted in favour of the motion.

Groves explained she never received a written copy of the motion prior to the vote and would have voted against the clause that was added.

Council had deferred adoption of the Nov. 6 minutes until Tuesday's meeting to get a report from Town clerk Cheri Cowan to see if the vote was handled properly.

Cowan said she didn't see anything done wrong procedurally. She added in reviewing the audio tapes of the meeting the motion was read out twice before a vote was taken.

Groves said she reviewed the audio tapes and nowhere did she find the request of the acting clerk for a copy of the motion, as Cowan's report suggested.

Cowan said the legislative co-ordinator distributed a copy of the motion to each council member.

"I did not receive the copy," Groves said.

She disagreed with the findings of Cowan's report, believing legal services staff should have written it. She wanted her name removed from supporting the Nov. 6 vote on population forecasts.

Groves then turned her attention to the mayor, suggesting Morrison was part of a media campaign and should consider resigning.

She reiterated the main motion wasn't properly circulated to her and some other councillors. She said it didn't allow her to analyze the motion.

Morrison interjected that if Groves read the clerk's report she would find everything was done procedurally.

Groves said it's important they stand up for each other and won't stand for negative comments directed at her. She added she won't resign for standing up for the greater Bolton community.

"I believe in clear and transparent government," she said.

She also commented the Nov. 6 vote wasn't a proud moment for the Town of Caledon and council made a decision in haste.

While she wanted the 2021 population forecasts removed, she still favoured a population forecast of 108,000 for 2031.

Councillor Jason Payne said a resident thought it was his and Groves's position to add to the 108,000 population forecast but he denied it unequivocally.

He also said he didn't receive a written copy of the motion that was voted on and added they shouldn't have voted at all because all the information wasn't there.

He requested the matter be referred to legal services for a report back to council but his referral was defeated in a tie vote.

"It's a sad day for democracy," Payne said.

He questioned why there's a rush to put this through, stating all he was asking for was a review.

"It's absolutely disgusting," he said, clearly angry. "It's why people don't get out to vote."

He then walked out of the council chambers but returned a few minutes later.

"I think everybody cares about the Town of Caledon," said Councillor Allan Thompson, adding he believed they were getting into nitpicking. He observed there are ways they can support future growth in Bolton, pointing out this isn't a party system, it's an individual system.

"We're going to support you through this term," he told his colleagues from Bolton.

Groves countered she didn't think she was nitpicking. She said it was important to clear the air and move on.

"This is merely stating some facts," she said.

Councillor Doug Beffort applauded Groves and Payne for speaking up, but said his perception of the Nov. 6 vote matched the clerk's report.

He explained he met with planning staff and residents of Bolton and after his own personal review he believed it was important to vote the way he did. He didn't see 2021 as a barrier.

"We're getting hung up on numbers," he said. "This is about planning. I'm happy with what I did."

Councillor Richard Whitehead supported the referral to legal services. He said if this should come up again, it would be good to get legal to look at it so nobody could say it wasn't objective.

He didn't have a problem with the word "forecast" in the motion because forecast is a prediction or estimate, not a barrier.

"Planning at best is a moving target," he said.

He added he still supported the motion from Nov. 6 and suggested they move on and do their other work.

"We can return to our position at any time," he said.

Payne apologized for getting too passionate. He said this is an issue about Caledon and pointed out they don't want growth in Bolton. His concern was the financial stability of the Town, considering it's currently facing a 7.6 per cent tax increase which sent shivers up his spine. He noted they can't reduce staff salaries and they have very little assessed growth.

"You should not apologize for anything," Beffort told Payne, adding it was one of the best council meetings they've had.

He compared the meeting to a crowded nightclub.

"No matter what you do, you rub somebody the wrong way," he said.

Councillor Gord McClure said the Town has a reputation for being too conservative. He wouldn't be against growth in any part of town.

Groves put forward an amendment that council continue debate on the 2021 population without prejudice but it was defeated in a 6-2 vote. Her only support came from Payne.

A motion to receive the clerk's report passed 6-2. The Nov. 6 council minutes were approved 6-2. Groves and Payne dissented in both votes.