July 12 Clearview council news
Clearview Township is one step closer to having an Indigenous land acknowledgement according to Mayor Doug Measures. Measures says there is interest in acknowledging the Indigenous history of the community, but they want to ensure it’s done right.
The lands within the township are not specifically designated in any First Nations treaties, which is typically the basis of a meaningful land acknowledgement. Measures says council wants to do the right thing and recognize the ancestral heritage of the lands, but research is needed to ensure the right group is recognized.
Township staff is preparing a report for council. Then Measures expects the next step will be a workshop in late summer or early fall to develop a land acknowledgement. The Town of Collingwood has been opening meetings with a land acknowledgement since the inauguration of the current council.
In other news, council approved the purchase of a new bus for Clearview Transit at a cost of $115,499.37. The bus will replace an existing unit with very high mileage.
Ward 5 Councillor Thom Paterson requested an update on development activity for the township, especially in light of issues with water supply in Stayner and waste water capacity in Creemore. Township staff will prepare an update for the next meeting of council.
Paterson suggested that as things begin to return to normal, council should consider keeping some of the good things that arose out of COVID. He says the move to virtual meetings has made public participation in the workings of council easier, and the practice of archiving meetings online has created greater transparency.
