> Grimsby/West Lincoln firefighters saluted for Fire Prevention Week /Pgs 9-13 > Hat Trick Hockey back again! Pg 5 > Jordan exonerated in another IC complaint Pg 3 > WLMH’s ‘Take It To The Finish’ hits public phase Pg 6 Thursday, October 7, 2021 Vol. 10 Issue 23
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Last Saturday the Lincoln Museum & Cultural Centre had double the celebration as it not only hosted the Town’s annual Pioneer Day but also the grand opening of the new Museum. Here (L-R) the Kowalski family of Ava, Luke, Cassandra and Lincoln watch as Brian Pearson works a vintage woodcutting saw. For more on this, turn to Page 4. Marks - Photo
West Lincoln eyes expansion By Tristan Marks NewsNow West Lincoln’s review of expanding its urban boundaries is taking another big step this week with a virtual public meeting set for Wednesday (Oct. 6). That meeting comes on the heels of an update at the Township’s Planning/Building/Environmental Committee on Sept. 13 regarding the ongoing Master Community Plan study. At the same meeting, council also heard a presentation on expanding employment areas in West Lincoln’s rural hamlets. The update on the Smithville Master Community Plan follows up on public input given by resi-
dents who participated in a Public Information Centre (PIC) in January of this year. Consultant Steven Wever explained that of two land-use options presented to residents at the PIC, the vast majority preferred the one that grouped future employment lands to the north and east of Smithville’s expanded borders, and placed future residential land to the south and south-West. The concept plan Wever presented to council elaborated further on this preferred option. This concept envisions urban employment lands along Industrial Park Road, and while retaining agricultural/rural employ-
ment lands along parts of RR 20 to the west of Station Street. Residential areas of various densities and mixed-use zoning would radiate from “commercial nodes” to the south of Townline Road and the west of South Grimsby Road 5. “In this plan, the majority of the expanded area would be used for residents,” said Wever. The presentation also touched on several options for truck corridors/downtown bypasses. Option A would see a new bypass road connecting Townline Road to Industrial Park Road and having the route continue along a new east-west route south of See DEVELOP, Page 4
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IC reports set off explosive council session By Mike Williscraft NewsNow What is left of Grimsby council’s integrity got another black eye Monday when Coun. Randy Vaine erupted in a tirade as discussion regarding him being in breach of the Town’s Code of Conduct for harassment got underway. The finding of that Integrity Commissioner complaint, issued by Coun. Dorothy Bothwell was issued in tandem with another complaint filed by Coun. Kevin Ritchie, Coun. John Dunstall and Coun. Randy Vaine. They issued 19 claims of Mayor Jeff Jordan breaching the Code of Conduct. All of which IC Michael Maynard either completely rejected or found did not have any standing to require a finding. The Vaine complaint was 30 pages while the trio’s complaint vs Jordan was 44 pages long. In his finding on the Vaine complaint, Maynard noted: “We (Maynard and report co-author Benjamin Drory) have determined that Councillor Vaine contravened
sections 4.1 (i) and 12.1 of the Code of Conduct. Councillor Vaine contravened s. 4.1 (i) by his email of March 11, 2021, in which he wrote, in part, “in my opinion you try to come across as better than everyone else”. That comment was disparaging of Councillor Bothwell and was made in an email copied to all other Members of Council and several senior members of staff. Councillor Vaine also harassed Councillor Bothwell, contrary to s. 12.1, as evidenced by various email exchanges between them over time, and on these occasions his interactions did not fall under the jurisdiction of a meeting chair under the Procedural By-law.” The report also cited there are only two possible penalties - a reprimand, or a suspension of the remuneration paid for up to 90 days. “In the circumstances, it is our view that a reprimand against Councillor Vaine would be appropriate. We do not find his conduct to be of a degree warranting a suspension of pay, See HARASSMENT, Page 2