Considering that Councillor Crain Didn’t Correct Errors regarding his motion at the council or committee meeting, I thought Crain was hypocritical at the October 23 council meeting for objecting to Councillor Pouget’s notice of motion for being worded differently than noted in the minutes.
I also thought Crain was hypercritical of Pouget’s motion because his objection was based on his perception that the motion wording undermines the work of staff. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard such staunch cheerleading of staff but he was elected to represent the public interest, including tree canopy issues that are within the duties of council.
On October 10, 2023 Councillor Pouget believed a notice of motion was in order to direct administration to provide the parks committee and environmental committee a complete report regarding the 2017 tree study on town property.
On October 23, 2023, Pouget read the notice of motion and looked for a seconder.
Councillor Crain said something inaudible and Mayor Prue stated he had an objection that it’s not the same; he asked Crain to explain the nature of the objection.
Crain said it’s not the same notice of motion that’s included in the agenda.
Prue asked Pouget to withdraw the first motion and read the second one and see if there’s a seconder; Councillor Allaire seconded.
Crain then stated, just to seek clarification to staff; is it true that we do not have a maintenance policy for the planting of new trees?
Staff answered that the town has a tree bylaw that speaks to tree trimming and maintaining. Crain then stated so the new trees are added into our total tree inventory and then based on this bylaw that we already have are continually maintained already so it’s not that there’s no policy, it’s that new trees are now considered old once they’re planted and then maintained over time.
After staff spoke again, Crain made his position known: I won’t be supporting the motion. I find that the way this motion is worded is implying that our arborist and staff are taking down fair to good condition trees, which in my opinion, I do not believe is happening. I’m not sure where this assumption is coming from and especially with reducing Norway maples. We have this maintenance program already and just the way it’s worded I find that it undermines the work of staff so I won’t be supporting it.
Pouget stated she brought this before to council and that they go and look at these trees; no one apparently has, but when she’s talking about maintenance, they do not water these trees that need watering in the first two years.
Councillor Allaire asked about Windsor’s practice and shared a personal anecdote about growing up on a farm.
Councillor McArthur chimed in and asked if they were removing trees in fairly good condition and why would they be doing that.
More back and forth and more time wasted spent on staff participation and then Allaire stated it seems like our staff is doing a good job and following all the rules that they have implemented over the years. She appreciates the idea of providing the parks and rec committee and the environmental committee with the tree study and she thinks that’s a good portion of Pouget’s notice of motion and if she were willing to take a friendly amendment, she would support that.
As if staff hadn’t taken up enough time, Prue then invited the clerk to speak.
Pouget stated she couldn’t agree to the friendly amendment – she asked that the committees be given all the pertinent information. Pouget also wanted to go on record that she resents Councillor Linden Crain making a statement like he did against her, that he made a face, and made a statement against her that she was trying to undermine the arborist or public works and that was never her intent.
Prue stated her point was well taken and let’s not degenerate here into name calling or argument.
WAIT, WHAT? I didn’t hear any name calling! I’ve written several posts about the lack of decorum and incivility. Prue really needs to step up and act in the first instance, consistently, and not leave it up to individual councillors to defend themselves.
Pouget stated that shouldn’t have happened and Prue should have stopped it from the beginning and she asked Pure to speak on the Bellevue issue regarding what he witnessed.
Listen to the audio.
the burg watch 