Springwater Township council deferred its decision on the City of Barrie's proposed boundary adjustment at its meeting on Wednesday, opting to gather more information before an important vote.
One hour, 20 minutes of discussion, mostly surrounding whether the Township was fully prepared to vote, led to the 4-3 decision.
Extra time will allow Springwater to again consult with legal counsel. A report from representatives to council will occur at a special meeting to be held the week of October 20-24.
The upcoming consultations will discuss the possibility of initiating a judicial review of the boundary adjustment process, an idea first posed by Councillor Anita Moore.
"We are in a position that we either have to vote this down because of what our legal representatives have advised, or we potentially could defer until we have a judicial review," she said. "Then, a judge decides that we do find ourselves in a position where we really—and legally—cannot make a decision."
A major point of concern surrounds the looming possibility of Mayor Jennifer Coughlin, who reaffirmed her support for the adjustment proposal she had a part in negotiating, using her Strong Mayor Powers to give it the OK.
Council received countering legal opinions from two firms on Wednesday regarding whether the Strong Mayor Powers give Coughlin the ability to endorse a boundary adjustment. One firm claimed they do not grant the authority, and the other claimed they do.
"We were receiving legal opinions as of early this afternoon. Matter of fact, I was reading one in the car as I came over," Coun. Phil Fisher said. "That to me is rushed... That should worry the public that we have contradictory reports coming to us at the last minute."
The last-minute nature of those opinions illustrated the overall viewpoint by some sitting members that the council isn't ready to decide.
"The rushed nature in which we find ourselves having to make a decision, while highlighting the overall process flaws, again leaving us with many questions unanswered," Coun. Moore said. "Most often, the question I get is, why the rush? Why we are considering planning principles out to 2051? Can we not take the time to make sure we get this right?"
Moore, in particular, noted concern with watersheds at the top of Bayfield Street (County Road 26). She was also one of many councillors who attested to a vast majority of residents sharing with them their opposition to a border adjustment. Other questions revolve around potential cross-border servicing, for which the City of Barrie has offered to enter an agreement.
However, some believe that the nearly two years since the Township began the process, along with the City of Barrie, Township of Oro-Medonte, and County of Simcoe, has been plenty of time.
"[The City of Barrie] has over $1 billion of infrastructure already in place," Coun. Brad Thompson said. "Both the Sadlon group and Remington Group are very confident that Barrie can do what they said they're going to do. I don't think any more reports are going to change that. I don't think any more legal opinions are going to change that."
Thompson, who favours the adjustment proposal, noted the Ontario government proposed the September 30 deadline for a framework agreement.
Over 50 concerned residents attended the meeting, with some voicing their concerns during question period regarding the usage of Strong Mayor Powers, and the matter of this decision being an election issue. Some councilors agreed that it should be an election issue, even going as far as to suggest a referendum.
Loopstra Nixon, the firm that recommended the township go ahead with its Midhurst expansion plan, was suggested by Coun. Fisher to provide consultation regarding a potential judicial review. Notably, this is the same firm that concluded in its opinion that Strong Mayor Powers couldn't be used to authorize a boundary adjustment.
Springwater Township council's next regular meeting will be November 5.
