At the Nov. 2016 AGM, the membership approved the restructuring of the GWCA and elected a 14 member Board to move the association’s work forward. At its organizational meeting, the 2017 GWCA Board elected four of its Directors to serve in executive roles. The Directors are now building relationships with key leaders and groups in the wider community.

GWCA Board meets with Mayor and Ward 2 Councillors

On Jan. 10 2017, the Board, Mayor Bonnette and Ward 2 Councillors Clark Somerville, Bryan Lewis and Ted Brown met “to strengthen our working relationship”. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange information and to gain a better understanding of varying perspectives.

The Board updated our elected representatives about the association’s restructuring, our 1000+ registrants, our electronic newsletter, our monthly column in Neighbours in the Glen, and the newly launched Glen website. We provided an overview of the GWCA’s five areas of interest:

  1. Development & Infrastructure
  2. Traffic & Safe Active Transportation
  3. Natural & Built Heritage
  4. Business & the Arts
  5. Activities, Events & Community Groups

The elected officials provided updates on town-wide urban and rural initiatives and Glen Williams projects. Most of the discussion focused on development and infrastructure, where the GWCA explained difficulties encountered with the Town’s current public engagement process. As it was a very full agenda only partially achieved, all agreed to continue the discussion in future meetings.

GWCA Board delegates Special Council Meeting

On Jan. 24, 2017, Town Council held a Special Council Meeting to discuss the Eden Oak Creditview Heights application for a 31 home subdivision beside the Rail Trail and above Credit St. The Staff Report reflected an agreement struck by the Town with the developer and recommended that Council endorse the new subdivision in principle, subject to 114 Conditions.

The Council Chambers overflowed with concerned Glen residents. The public meeting format restricted each delegate to 5 minutes, with no opportunity to question Town Staff. To explain the range of resident concerns, four GWCA Board members presented, along with 2 other residents. Issues raised included: poor public process, the need for public input into the implementation of the 114 conditions, the loss of the Glen’s rural look, poor neighbourhood connectivity with the rest of the hamlet, the lack of any formal risk and liability analysis to protect residents, and the inability of the current John St. sewage pump station to handle emergency overflows.

Despite the arguments presented by the public, all members of Council, except Councillor Bryan Lewis, voted in favour of the subdivision and approved the Report. The outcome was a disappointment for Glen residents. The level of criticism concerning the poor public engagement procedures had the Mayor commit Council and Staff to a review of the Town’s public process. The Eden Oak development application will move on to a Feb. 27 2017 @ 10:00 am OMB Hearing, which given the deal struck, will be primarily a settlement hearing.

Originally published in Neighbours in the Glen magazine March 2017