Former Sydenham councillor blasts name change decision
Old animosities return to haunt council decision
By Chris Fell Express Staff

At the previous meeting council voted 4-3 in favour of changing the name from Georgian Highlands to the Municipality of Meaford the four members in favour of the change cited safety concerns regarding emergency dispatch services and confusion with neighbouring municipalities already named Grey Highlands and Georgian Bluffs.

Although only former Sydenham councillor Dave Stewart addressed council, many in the crowd broke into cheers following Stewart's presentation and also hooted and hollered at council members which prompted Mayor Gerald Shortt to bang his gavel asking for order on a number of occasions.

Stewart read a brief statement to council about the name change decision and why it was made.

"I would like to know why three council members were unaware of the motion before hand. Why something this important was not listed on the agenda. It was agreed by the Transition Board that the new name should not be any of the former names. It appears that a lot of time and money was wasted on the decisions of the Transition Board when they could have been left for the new council," said Stewart asking for answers in writing.

Stewart said since last Monday's meeting he had fielded more phone calls from angry residents than he ever had as a municipal councillor. "People are angry about this, a lot of people are upset. We were forced into this amalgamation and I'm sorry to say (the name change) is a bad thing," said Stewart. "Would it not be better to have it called a new name, this is supposed to be a new beginning," Stewart added.

Mayor Gerald Shortt said a by-law still needed to be passed by council for the name to be officially changed and that involved advertising and a public process. Shortt also added that the other names weren't going to disappear with council's decision to change the current name.

"You will still have the same property designation and the road signs will still be the same," said Shortt.

Councillor Diane Hurlburt and Deputy Mayor Robert Reid both questioned the process used to change the name saying they were surprised and shocked when the resolution was read at the previous meeting.

"We knew nothing of the motion that came forward last meeting," said Hurlburt.

While Reid called the process "undemocratic" and said the name shouldn't even have been an issue for council. "The process that has gone on here is like throwing mud on the wall and seeing what sticks. Georgian Highlands has been viciously maligned and accused so it won't stick now. Council said it was interested in open decisions and that hasn't happened yet," said Reid.

Another resident, Ken Thompson, asked if council had a procedural by-law in place yet. When Shortt responded no, that the by-law was still being drafted Thompson said, "you're supposed to be required that your have a procedural by-law, it brings into question whether any of the process was legitimate."

However while Georgian Highlands council hasn't not passed a new procedural by-law, the former by-laws of the three municipalities are still in place rendered the procedure question moot.

Following the exchange with Stewart the name debate was set aside until late in the meeting it was once again raised by Hurlburt who read a statement concerning the name Meaford.

"That name has a connotation of high taxes, why choose a name synonomous with high taxes? It should not be one of the former three in this contentious amalgamation we've had," said Hurlburt. "The name was not done in haste by the Transition Board and it's imperative that due process take place. Meaford builds walls, it's divisive and it's regressive," said Hurlburt who suggested a new nine member committee with three members from each of the former three municipalities be named to the committee to find a new name.

However other members of council had problems with the suggestion that Meaford is the wrong name.

"With Meaford you keep going to this tax thing," said councillor Paul Hutchinson. "I have difficulty with that considering all the good things that have happened in Meaford over the years. I'll stick with Meaford, I believe it's a good name, it's been promoted well for many years," said Hutchinson.

While Mayor Shortt was clearly upset by some of Hurlburt's statements.

"I take offense to the point that Meaford is a mean place. When the Terry Fox run comes around every year Meaford gives more per person than any other community in Ontario. I thought we could have a new Meaford," said Shortt.

However Hurlburt corrected Shortt. "I never said Meaford was mean," she said.

While Shortt said those exact words weren't used, but the message was there.

"You said Meaford is building walls and I don't believe that at all. You said the tax situation made Meaford bad," said Shortt.

While Hurlburt replied, "that's not what I said."

Councillor Linda van Aalst interrupted and explained the reasoning behind her willingness to change the name to Meaford.

"The reason it was suggested is that it was the second choice of the Transition Board. Logically if you pick #1 and it doesn't work you then go to #2," said van Aalst, who noted that the idea of a name committee was legitimate but that time frame likely wouldn't allow it.

Councillor Harley Greenfield said he was beginning the see the possibility of dispatch problems occurring with Georgian Highlands after speaking with some people involved with dispatching.

"Perhaps Georgian Highlands is not the right name, but I'm more adamant that the name Meaford isn't right for our whole community. I'm not going to belittle Meaford for a minute because it has a fine record of accomplishments. But I feel bad for the people of Sydenham. I don't want the new municipality dissolved or blown apart before it gets down the road. This will only drive people from Sydenham farther away from the new municipality," said Greenfield. "Owen Sound is sitting back and smiling about this whole situation. The city wants Leith and Annan for assessment and the landfill. This is a major step towards abandoning the people in Sydenham," he added.

Councillor Sam Luckhardt said he wasn't going to change his mind on the name issue and said that when in government a person had to eccept their opinion winning in some situations and they also had to accept losing on some issues.

"We can't keep going in circles, if we pick a committee we'll be doing this a month from now again. It was a decision of council that was made," said Luckhardt, who pointed out that council had a planning report from the municipalities own planners before them that night that said "Township of Georgian Bluffs, former Sydenham township."

Deputy Mayor Robert Reid said the issue of 911 problems was "a fabricated excuse for not accepting the name of Georgian Highlands." Reid said the municipality had too much to do to worry about changing its name. "Why it's a discussion is beyond me. Why it's even on this council's agenda is beyond me. All these are things that are undone and we're dealing with a decision that's already been made," said Reid.

The name debate was lengthy and heated but council took no new action on the issue and as it stands a by-law to officially change to the Municipality of Meaford will be introduced at the regular council meeting on March 5. If passed the by-law will be sent to Queen's Park notifying the government.