Greenbelt’s downtrodden effects on farmers and rural communities

Re: Friday January 2 2009. Niagara this week; Lincoln councillor looks ahead at ’09. Re: Councillor and Deputy Mayor Rob Foster.

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You have said; “We are now into the final stages of development of our community, given the constraints put on us by Greenbelt. Our boundaries are fixed – there will be no more expansion.” That’s entirely incorrect. Council is about development. Perhaps you are a candidate for a council that you are leaving? May I say; “You are out of your league making statements on Greenbelt’s effect on municipal development.” No councillor has the right to abandon council with the interest of the public or limit Lincoln’s future prosperity. The Greenbelt Act was assigned to municipalities such as Lincoln. You are vested in the interests of the public that has voted you in but not in the interests of legislation that has not. Starting back two years I looked to references in 82 Lincoln Council chamber minutes of the meeting documents. Up to now I have discovered three about the Greenbelt Act. 1) Reducing idling car emissions. 2) A Private land problem. 3) On August 27, 2007 in the Mayor’s Report. Mayor Bill Hodgson informed council declaring the Town of Lincoln as a greenbelt community. Grimsby’s resolution on Greenbelt’s downtrodden effects on farmers and rural communities mandates all municipalities throughout Ontario to its legislative authority. Some awaken to lower tier governments and their voices that hold power to overlooking developmental benefits for taxpayers. Halton Region appears to be using a [loophole] in their Plan refusing water and pipe connections on any new developments pressuring developers and the Province to increase municipal funding for hospitals and other municipal services. Also mentioned are previous decisions you have made. Private and corporate honoraries have donated their time and money to the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Fund. I offer my heartfelt thanks championing the community efforts you have not been able to manage in a fitting manner. You elected to force Lincoln property owners to accept an extra 4.3% residual tax burden for 10 years. Thank you for this increase? At the time of Gretsinger Pool a cool $1.4 million investment was made for a pool that’s only open two months of the year. Does this incomplete project deserve our tax money? Before you hand over $2.1 million to a private corporation like the YMCA whose very survival depends on wiping out the local competition another 4.3% tax increase for the YMCA will be on the backs of the municipality? Real estate value is unstable in rural areas. Young people are alienated from their communities and from financial safety nets they helped make through hard work. Cap foolish municipal spending and saying no? More? Merchants suffered dearly when Ontario St. was under construction. I know I did and some went to the point of bankruptcy. At the request of the street’s merchants I considered promoting local businesses. Councillors made a new sign bylaw that introduced even a greater strain on merchant’s painful economic environment immediately. I’m still trying to understand your version of the Lincoln greenbelt community. Look forward to the political challenges ahead when Lincoln’s public questions your votes. You have concluded it leaving Lincoln residents in the lurch. John O’Neill, Lincoln.