By JOHN STEWART
Staff Reporter
There will be no provincial investigation of the Clarkson Business Improvement Area (BIA) as requested by some of its members, says Mayor Hazel McCallion.
The mayor told a City planning committee meeting Wednesday that she and Ward 2 councillor Pat Mullin met with Ontario officials after a request was made for an investigation. Some BIA members have alleged that there have been significant irregularities in the management of the group.
But McCallion says "we've been assured that they are quite satisfied" that no investigation is required.
Frank and Robin Raimondo, who have a business in Clarkson, requested the investigation in June following an unruly public meeting at which charges of poor management were levelled at the executive. Counter-charges were also levelled at the group of dissidents for not participating in past decisions which affected their businesses.
In their letter to the government the Raimondos alleged that the executive makes all of the key decisions while "the rest of us are discouraged from expressing differences of opinion from this select group by threats."
John Canham, manager of the community renewal branch of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, says the branch has taken the position that "this is a local matter, and something which the municipal council and the BIA would have to resolve."
At its meeting Wednesday, the planning committee endorsed a recommendation not to repeal the Clarkson BIA bylaw as requested by the dissident group in a petition. Pat Pleich, vice-president of the BIA and the leader of those who want to dismantle the BIA, had asked for deferral of consideration but Mullin said the issue had already been deferred several times at Pleich's request.
The committee decided to accept a staff recommendation not to repeal the BIA bylaw. All members of the BIA will be invited to discuss the issue at the council meeting Sept. 26.
McCallion blamed the whole problem on the Freedom Party, a political party which has encouraged the dissolution of BIAs across Ontario and has encouraged the splinter group in Clarkson. "It's the Freedom Party that's in action. That's what we're up against," McCallion said. "They are just a couple of people, maybe one" who are anxious to disband the BIA, the mayor indicated.
Pleich said in an interview Wednesday that she had requested only one deferral of the recommendation. Several of her group are away on vacation or busy because of school starting, she said.
The owner of the Barn Antiques, which has operated in Clarkson for 19 years, said she is tired of the "propaganda" from McCallion and Mullin that the Freedom Party is behind her group's concerns. She says she is not a member of the party. "I just don't like living in Canada and having this shoved down my throat," she said. A handful of men on the executive are controlling the entire Clarkson Village community, she claimed.
The petition asking for dissolution of the BIA was signed by people representing 54 businesses in Clarkson. However, three of the businesses don't appear on the assessment rolls and another four are not in the area. The remaining 47 businesses represent 55 per cent of the assessment in the area according to a City report.
In a letter, BIA president Ted Biss said the petition represents only a minority view of businessmen. Some signatures were obtained "under false pretences" because people were "misled and regretted signing the document after being informed of the true facts," Biss claimed. He said BIA members will have their opportunity to challenge any of the group actions at the November general meeting when a new executive will be elected.
Pleich, who collected the names on the petition herself, said of the charges "what did I do, break peoples' arms?" Many people studied documents she provided for them extensively before deciding to sign the petition, Pleich said.
The entire controversy will now be settled in the courts, according to the BIA vice-president. "I've given up" trying to deal with the City and the BIA, she added. "I've given it to the lawyers" and court action will follow, she said.
McCallion has asked City staff to clarify the eligibility of the people who signed the petition.
Ward 4 councillor Larry Taylor said a drive along Lakeshore Rd. W. in Clarkson Village convinced him of the progress which has been made because of the BIA, which is involved in a long-term beautification program involving financial contributions from both Mississauga and Ontario. "People would have to be blind not to see the real positive progress," Taylor said. "It's a shame to see BlAs disrupted."
Ward 6 councillor David Culham rejected the argument that the majority of Clarkson businessmen weren't aware of the $500,000 beautification plan. "I find it impossible to belie they would allow the executive to enter into this arrangement without full knowledge. They can't be that clueless," he said.
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last updated on April 28, 2002
