
February 2, 2018 · 0 Comments
By Mike Pickford
Orangeville Council has instructed Mayor Jeremy Williams to demand that the provincial government pay the cost of maintaining Broadway, which was a connecting link for Highway 9 until the highway was downloaded between Orangeville and Harriston.
In one of Council’s stranger motions Monday (Jan. 29), the Mayor was told once again to get tough with the Province and inform them they will have to take responsibility for Broadway and County Road 109 moving forward. This marks the second time in just three months that Council has told the mayor to initiate conversations with the provincial government.
The initial request was made during a meeting last November, but Mayor Williams thought it best to seek clarification on the motion, assuming there had been a mistake. In his view, the wording involved in the motion, which clearly states the mayor should demand the province take control of Broadway, went above and beyond his powers as mayor.
“We cannot tell the province what to do. That makes about as much sense as telling the moon to change the direction it faces,” Mayor Williams told Council. “If you’re asking me to request that the province take over Broadway, I will do that.”
A similar request in 2015 was shot down by former Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca, who noticed the province wasn’t considering any municipal road uploads at that time.
While Coun. Nick Garisto encouraged the mayor to “take a stand” and fight the province, citing the increased flow of traffic on the road in recent years as justification for a provincial review, Coun. Scott Wilson was a little blunter, simply advising the mayor to drop the matter.
“The Province is not going to take back Broadway. They aren’t going to take back (County Road) 109. They’re not going to take back (County Road) 124,” Coun. Wilson said. “The Province will not do something just because we tell you that you have to do it. My suggestion to you would be to drop this.”
Following a vote, Council decided it did not want to reword the original motion, instead once again telling Mayor Williams to specifically demand the province takes over Broadway.
“So you guys really want me to tell the Province what to do?” Mayor Williams queried. Deputy Mayor Warren Maycock replied, “Correct.”
“Then that makes no sense at all,” Mr. Williams chimed. “I guess you guys must be smarter than me… I have been directed by Council to do something I do not have the authority to do. Still, I will do as Council directs.”