In 2014, wealthy well connected Rondeau leaseholders tried to get Chatham Kent to impose a Heritage District over Rondeau Park to extend Municipal jurisdiction by fiat.
Chatham Kent wasted $64,000 on a process that was inevitably overturned by the Ontario Municipal Board.
The Municipality also ignored advice from its own Heritage Committee and it's Planning department all due to internal influence from privileged Rondeau Leaseholders.
I've included this timeline because this is exactly what the Rondeau Cottagers Association (RCA) is attempting to do again using their salesman Municipal CAO Don Shropshire.
Trying to privatize the park and getting hard-working taxpayers pay for it!
The following quotes are from municipal council meeting records.
July 14, 2014
Councillor (Art) Stirling presented a Notice of Motion regarding Rondeau Provincial Park Heritage Designation. The matter will be added to the August 11, 2014 Council Agenda for discussion and voting
Aug 11 2014
-closed session discussion
Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose, in regard to Rondeau Provincial Park Section 239
Councillor Stirling moved, Councillor Wesley seconded:
“That
1. Council requests the addition of the Rondeau Park cottage community to the Municipal Heritage Registry maintained by the Planning Department which lists the property of heritage value or interest, per Article 27(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act.
2. Council requests and directs staff to prepare a report for Council discussion and decision which includes:
a. The steps required for a Heritage Conservation District designation under the Heritage Act;
b. A by-law, for the consideration of Council, designating the area occupied by the Rondeau Cottagers Association as a Heritage Conservation District;
c. Advise Council on any financial implications (positive and negative) on passing a by-law to create a Heritage Conservation District as outlined above;
d. Any other information that staff deems important.”
Nov 26 2014
The Municipal Heritage Committee was consulted on November 26, 2014 and passed the following motion:
“That the Municipal Heritage Committee is very uncomfortable with the fact that Council is moving forward with listing all the properties in Rondeau Park for the following reasons:
-The Committee does not believe that they have jurisdiction because technically the Park is not part of Chatham-Kent.
-Not all the buildings within the Park boundaries have enough value to be listed on the Heritage Register.
However, it is the prerogative of Council to move forward as it sees fit, and therefore the Committee is prepared to neither support nor oppose Council’s decision.”
Dec 19 2014
To: Mayor and Members of Council
From: Marsha Coyne, Acting Director Planning Services Date: December 19, 2014
Subject: Rondeau Provincial Park - Heritage Conservation District
Recommendation:
3) The Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into an agreement with the Rondeau Cottagers Association to obtain the commitment of full funding of the work necessary to support designation of the Rondeau Provincial Park cottage community as a heritage conservation district under the Ontario Heritage Act, and such agreement be subject to the approval of the Chief Legal Officer.
Jan 19 2015
Councillor (Karen) Herman moved, Councillor Wesley seconded:
“That
1. Rondeau Provincial Park be added to the Municipal Heritage Register.
2. Administration provide written notification of the addition of Rondeau Provincial Park to the Municipal Heritage Register to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, and to the lessees of private cottages within the boundary of Rondeau Provincial Park.
3. The work necessary to support designation of the Rondeau Provincial Park cottage community as a heritage conservation district under the Ontario Heritage Act be single sourced to MHBC Planning Limited.
4. That the fees required of approximately $64,000.00 as noted in this report for the Heritage Conservation Study and Plan come from the Chatham-Kent Strategic Reserve.
Administration recommends that the Municipality enter into an agreement with the Rondeau Cottagers Association to obtain the commitment of full funding of the work necessary to support designation of the Rondeau Provincial Park cottage community as a heritage conservation district under the Ontario Heritage Act.
( This recommendation was ignored! )
July 13 2015
Financial Implications:
The Rondeau Heritage Conservation District Study related expenses of $26,500 are funded through a $64,000 project allocation from the Strategic Reserve. The work required to complete the Rondeau Heritage Conservation District Plan and Guidelines is anticipated to make use of the remaining budget.
Oct 1 2015
Financial Implications
The costs of the studies and plan prepared by MHBC totaling approximately $64,000 and funded by the Municipality through an allocation from the Strategic Reserve.
Prepared by: Reviewed by:
John Norton, Chief Legal Officer Don Shropshire Legislative Services Chief Administrative Officer
Oct 26 2015
“That Council pass the attached by-law (attached as Schedule “A”) designating Rondeau Provincial Park cottage community as a heritage conservation district.”
Councillor Robertson expressed concern with the costs associated with the defense of this decision. The Chief Legal Officer noted that he is legal counsel for the Municipality and he would defend Council’s decision on this matter.
Jul. 14 2016
The Ontario Municipal Board overturns Chatham-Kent's attempt at imposing jurisdiction over the Rondeau Provincial Park. (Thank you Linda Hinds!)
https://www.omb.gov.on.ca/e-decisions/mm150077-Jul-14-2016.pdf
Ripped off by the Rondeau Cottagers Association (RCA)
In the end, an Ontario Municipal Board tribunal reversed the illegal designation and the costs of the study and plan, as well as staff resources to participate in the OMB hearing were borne by the Municipal taxpayers.
The people of Chatham-Kent did not agree to any of this corrupt municipal process, yet we got stuck with the bill.
Please share the petition and these updates with everybody in Ontario that you know.
This can happen to you!
Keep Public Lands in Public Hands
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A very good breakdown of the Provincial process:
"What's wrong with Rondeau Park"parts 1 & 2