Vaughan
May 17, 2008 11:48 PM
By: Caroline Grech
Vaughan politicians this week upheld a decision to allow a citizen committee to continue its work to find a spot for a leash-free dog park amid drama and accusations of ill will.
The process of finding a dog park has been marred by accusations and bad blood between some politicians and the committee.
Councillor Peter Meffe drew fire from the dog group, who accused him of trying to circumvent the process.
“I’m absoultey disgusted that I was made to look like the enemy here and it was all about narrow-mindedness,” Mr. Meffe said, adding that members of the citizen’s committee called on Vaughan’s new integrity commissioner to look into the issue. “I want an apology.”
If he doesn’t receive an apology, he threatened to take legal action.
Part of Mr. Meffe’s problem was that the committee’s first choice of propety is owned by three parties, Vaughan, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the Kleinburg and Area Ratepayers Association.
In a letter to council, association president Ken Schwenger said they supported a leash-free park, but not in the Kleinburg New Forest.
At Monday’s meeting, Councillor Tony Carella, who is on the leash-free committee, brought forward a motion to square away one hectare of land in Foster Woods park, despite council agreeing to a number of recommendations the week before that included allowing the citizen committee to continue to scout out sites.
Back in December, council approved a plan that would have the committee visit each of the proposed sites and hold a community meeting there.
So far, only one meeting has been held at the Kleinburg location, the preferred site.
But Councillor Bernie Di Vona, also a committee member, wouldn’t support Mr. Carella’s motion, saying a lot of work has gone into the process as originally recommended and added the committee has done the work they were asked to do.
Meanwhile, Regional Councillor Gino Rosati had his fill with the theatrics.
“We spent three hours last week and we came up with some recommendations. It really bothers me to see this off- the-cuff resolution when we have been discussing this for months. I would be remiss if I didn’t express my disappointment about what is before us now,” Mr. Rosati said, exasperated. “Please go out and do your job. This is absolutely ridiculous and is wasting council’s time.”
Council decided to allow the committee to continue looking at sites.
Possible locationsThe following is a list of proposed sites for an off-leash park, in order of preference:
•William Foster Woods, northeast corner Major Mackenzie Drive and Islington Avenue;
•Hydro corridor abutting the Glen Shields neighbourhood, access off Centre Street;
•Portion of the Concord-Thornhill Regional Park, either within the hydro corridor or at the eastern end of the site;
•The area north of Patricia Kemp Community Centre, south of the operations yard;
•Vacant lands northwest of the Jane Street and Major Mackenzie Drive intersection;
•Hydro corridor abutting Patricia Kemp Community Centre and;
•Vacant lands immediately north of Harry Putter driving range at Islington Avenue and Rutherford Road.