Still no resolution to name debate
By Scott Woodhouse Express Staff

The saga of the Town With No Name continues.

At the regular Monday night meeting of Meaford council, Deputy Mayor Robert Reid introduced a motion to rescind the bylaw that changed the municipality's name from Georgian Highlands to Meaford.

Reid reiterated his position that the original bylaw had been improperly introduced and that he was bringing the motion forward at the request of a large number of ratepayers.

"A mistake was made, it's time to correct it before any further damage is done," said Reid.

Mayor Gerald Shortt was visibly angered by the resolution and asked Reid if he felt it proper to bring forward the resolution when two members of council were away on holidays.

"Are you taking advantage of the fact that they (Paul Hutchison and Sam Luckhardt) are away?" asked Shortt. Both Hutchison and Luckhardt voted in favour of changing the name to Meaford.

Reid responded that he thought the absent members would be back after the last council meeting was cancelled.

Shortt added that a bylaw could not be rescinded by a motion. Reid responded that the motion was meant to instruct the administration to prepare a bylaw that would rescind the name-change bylaw.

Councillor Linda Van Aalst asked that the motion be tabled until all members of council were present, but no one would second it.

A recorded vote was called and Deputy Mayor Reid and councillors Harley Greenfield and Diane Hurlburt voted in favor of the motion. Shortt and Van Aalst were opposed.

"I thought it was done, but I guess it's not done," said Shortt after the vote was called. "I think we're making a farce of this, but we'll carry on."

Deputy Mayor Reid responded that it was inappropriate for the mayor to make comments after the vote was called.

Town staff will now prepare a bylaw to rescind the name change that will likely be voted on at the next regular meeting of council.

Whether it will pass remains to be seen. If Hutchinson and Luckhardt have returned from holidays and the whole of council votes as it did previously, it is likely the bylaw will fail to pass.