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Letter to the Editor: Explanation and apology owed

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It was with some amusement I read about: “council not being informed of an application for a ministerial zoning order submitted by Mayor Dan Mathieson in 2018 to speed up development.”

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At the very bottom of the stationary used by the mayor to write the MZO (a month after the 2018 election was completed) is a list of the Stratford councillors. It would be reasonable to assume they were consulted on the letter and  were copied on the letter – two of whom decided not to run for a second term and another who did not retain his position on council. The issue of integrity would appear to have been violated when you pause to review the Ontario Guidelines for Municipalities: “Municipal decisions, however, are made by council as a whole. Generally, the head of council does not have any more power than any other member of council to make decisions on behalf of the municipality. Each member of council only has one vote.”

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It would certainly appear that the mayor acted alone and did not follow the spirit of the guidelines. I disagree with the integrity commissioner’s ruling and hope that he donates his pay to a worthy charity.

We are informed that “In 2020, Swayze worked a combined 75.2 hours at $235 per hour, totalling $17,672 plus HST.”

No doubt, the “Stratford Soap Opera of In Camera Closed-Door Meetings”, going over budget for projects, raising property taxes, and ignoring all the potholes today with no care for tomorrow will continue. Question: Have voters finally reached the point where enough is enough? Will they vote in a new mayor, along with a new council who will follow the spirit of Ontario’s municipal guidelines?

Why did the mayor pursue this glass plant with such vigour knowing full well the harm it may potentially do to tourism, agriculture and attracting future homeowners? This question was never answered along with many other questions.

Someone owes the City of Stratford an explanation. along with an apology for not following the democratic process.

Sincerely,

Michael Goldbarth

Stratford

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