CATCH Articles:
McHattie and Mitchell clash over idling bylaw
Mar 20, 2007
The latest round in Mayor Eisenberger’s effort to enact an anti-idling bylaw featured a sharp clash in today’s planning committee meeting between Glanbrook councillor Dave Mitchell and west end representative Brian McHattie. The outcome was a 5-3 decision to hold a public meeting on the issue.
Eisenberger had attempted to get the bylaw adopted at the last planning committee meeting on February 20, but ran into opposition from Mitchell who announced right at the beginning that he would be “asking for an amendment that asks staff to hold public meetings on this matter before we proceed with a council bylaw.” That move was quickly seconded by Stoney Creek councillor Maria Pearson.
The eventual decision was to ask staff advice on a public consultation process. That came today, and led McHattie to move a motion “that a special meeting of committee of the whole be assembled to receive input from stakeholders and the public on the draft anti-idling bylaw”.
But when it came to a vote, Mitchell, Pearson and Ancaster councillor Lloyd Ferguson stood against it, leading to the following exchange between Mitchell and McHattie.
McHattie: “Why are you opposed, sir?”
Mitchell: “Well, maybe I’ll display that reason when we get to the public meeting where I can tell the whole planet.”
McHattie: “You don’t want public consultation? Is that the story?”
Mitchell: “No, and don’t spin my words. I did not believe we need an idling bylaw and it’s a waste of our money.”
McHattie: “You don’t want to hear from the public.”
Mitchell: “That’s not what I said.”
McHattie: “Take notes, Spectator and media.”
Eisenberger has been pushing the bylaw since the first committee meeting in January. He was initially thwarted by Mitchell and Ferguson who successfully demanded that the proposal be reviewed by the agricultural and rural affairs committee that both of them sit on.
That committee suggested several amendments, including an exemption for farm vehicles, that were included in a new draft. But while Mitchell and Ferguson endorsed those changes, they still made clear that they wouldn’t support the new draft that included them. That debate ended in their call for public consultation on the bylaw, and led to today’s meeting.
While supporting the public meeting, Eisenberger made clear that he is frustrated by the repeated delays, suggesting that some councillors are “thwarting the process” of deciding on the bylaw.
“If you’re fundamentally opposed to this, then let’s have at it,” he declared, “and let’s vote on whether or not we should have one.”
Ferguson made clear that he is opposed and will not be changing his mind.
“I’ve always opposed this bylaw because I hate the heavy hand of government,” he declared. “I think government’s in our face too much as it is and this just does it again.”
Pearson argued that the educational program conducted by Green Venture over the last year was insufficient because no anti-idling signs had been erected at the entrance to the city.
“I think there’s a lot more that can be done as an education process,” she argued. “Also I think we should publicize that we are an idle-free community to everybody coming into Hamilton."