The ongoing woodlot preservation issue in Chatham-Kent is set to be dealt with by the incoming new term of Council.
Wallaceburg Councillor Aaron Hall, who is the chair of the Natural Heritage Committee of the Whole, entered a successful motion at the virtual Council meeting on Monday, July 25, 2022, to pause the work by the committee for the remainder of the Council term.
“This motion makes the most sense for us at this time,” Hall said.
“We’re simply competing with the calendar at this point in our term.”
Hall’s motion also directed staff to bring an information report and presentation to the new term of Council, summarizing all of the work and information to date on the Natural Heritage topic, before the end of 2022.
A new Chair and Vice Chair of the Natural Heritage Committee of the Whole would take place at this time as well, Hall’s motion said.
Staff was also directed to include a link to all of the information related to the Natural Heritage work on the 2022 Municipal Election Candidate Page.
This information can be found, here.
“Carrying the committee forward allows us to maintain the work we’ve completed for procedural reasons… terms of reference, mandate, etc.,” Hall said.
“Getting the new Council up to speed on this topic right away is essential, hence the direction to have the report and presentation be brought by the end of the year. The direction also provides flexibility to the new Council to go in a direction they see fit.”
Hall added: “The link to the candidates page, this just streamlines the information on this important issue for every candidate that chooses to run in this election, and is a simple way to ensure whoever is looking at running across Chatham-Kent can have all the information available to them and at their fingertips, especially to those who are successful with their campaigns.”
Back in March, Council directed administration to release a request for proposals (RFP) for consulting services of a facilitator for the purpose of: Determining what further information needs to be gathered, what further stakeholder engagement is needed, if any; and, preparation of a preservation framework recommendation.
“Ultimately, no qualifying bids were received for this RFP,” a staff report indicates.
The full staff report can be read, here.
Also in March, The Natural Heritage Committee of the Whole approved a motion that the temporary clear-cutting bylaw be extended until Council approves a permanent approach to the preservation of woodlots located on private properties.
This bylaw currently remains in place and can be read, here.
