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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMarch 1, 1969 8/69 ~T day of ~¢H, 1969, at 9 a.m. PRESENT: Reeve J. R. Williams Deputy Reeve R. Chatten Councillors - V. Rudik R. M~son D. Kitchen A. King J. Kruger Clerk D. J. Plitz Reeve Williams called an emergent meeting of Council when it was learned that Mayor William LeGros proposed the annexation of approximately 75 percent of Picketing Township with Ajax, forming a borough, and further suggested the incluaion of the borough in an Oshawa region. Reeve Williams, before a crowded gallery of approximately 143 resident ratepayers, described Mayor LeGr&s' plan as totally unacceptable. The basic proposal by Mayor LeGros was of an area beginning at Lake Ontario east of the west Duffins' Creek Watershed to ~the west boundary of Pickering Township, north to the northern boundary of Pickering, east to the eastern boundary of Pickering and the Town of Whitby, then south to Lake Ontario. Two alternative plans were suggested, both of which were as unacceptable as the first to the Township Council and its ratepayers. Reeve Williams, in his address, pointed out that neither he nor any member of his Council was invited to attend the Ajax meeting. The Council of the Township of Pickering was not even requested to comment on the propos21~ despite a gentleman's agreement among the three municipalities ~ickering Townsh$, Picketing Village and the Town of Ajax. Copies of the Township's submission to the Minister on its desires to amalgeme~te with Metro Toronto were supplied to Ajax and the Village and members of Council of both these municipalities, and they were invited to meetings held with Metro Chairman William Allen. Reeve Williams stated the proposal made by Ajax was based on Ajax's fear of losing its identity in a regional government that included Oshawa. Reeve Williams asked for comments from the gallery. Mr. Ron Sproule, President of the Liberal Association, took this opportunity to say that he was disappointed in W. G. Newman, M.P.P. and "felt that he and his Tory friends in Ajax were attempting to get the Minister of Municipal Affairs off the hook". Mr. Sproule was of the opinion that this concept as prepared by Ajax was entirely wrong. Mr. Newman, M.P.P. retorted, tossing Mr. Sproule's remarks off as malicious and then proceeded to congratulate Council on entering into the regional study, as this was the only way to make a fast decision on an intelligent level. Mr. Milton J. Mowbray, President of the North Pickering Ratepayers' Association stated there was substantial feeling .against becoming a part of Metro Toronto in the rural areas of the Township, and further, that there was substantial feeling against joining Oahawa. He thought the Ajax proposal should be resisted as Ajax was not equipped to control such an area. Other persons from the floor gave brief comments indicating their support of the Township Council in the proposal to join with Metro. They were -- Mr. C. Oerlemans, VicePresident, Fairport Beach Ratepayers' Association Mr. J. Campbell, a Township resident Er. Lewis Power, a Township resident Mr. Alex Robertson, President, Bay Ridges Ratepayers Association Mr. Colin Robinson, a Township resident Mr. William Fertile, Frenchman's Bay Ratepayers Assoc. Mr. Robert G. R. Land, a Township resident Mr. A. Hall, a Township resident Mr. N. Banning, a Township resident Reeve Williams stated that unless the people of the Township are prepared to work for the future, then we will surely be pushed into the Oshawa orbit. There is no way we can stand being a dormitory development. The area to the west of Picketing is serviced and the development is supported with provincial monies, whereas very little is being done in the east. The Province has ignored ou~ area and the only way to bring Provincial attention to this area is for the people to make themselves heard. The Reeve asked for a show of hands to indicate whether they favour the Council's position in joining Metro. The showing was unanimous. The Reeve thanked the ratepayers for their support which game the Council a tremendous staff to walk with. With that, the meeting was adjourned at 11:35 a.m. Refer to brief from the Town of Ajax and Reeve Williams' rebuttal on file.