Deep River has taken the first step on its way to bringing in a pesticide bylaw.
But just what the bylaw will say is still up in the air.
Town council agreed last week to set up a special committee to draft the terms of a bylaw regulating the use of cosmetic pesticides in Deep River.
Councillor Andrew Celovsky will chair the committee.
The goal is to have a draft bylaw back to council next March.
Mayor Ann Aikens said she wants to be sure there is enough time for people on both sides of the issue to make their views known.
“We have been getting some letters and phone calls saying that this is not the way to go,” she said.
“Are they as many as the ones in favour of a bylaw? No.
“But before we get to any final decisions, I want to make sure both sides have had an adequate opportunity to be heard.”
Deputy Mayor Glenn Doncaster said there may be a place for a bylaw to regulate pesticide use, but he suggested council should put the issue to a referendum.
Doncaster said council has a responsibility to act “in the best interests of the community.”
“But we have a responsibility to act in the general interest of the community as well,” he said.
“I’m not totally clear on where our community stands on this.”
Doncaster said he doesn’t support referendums in most cases, because council is elected to make decisions.
“But if this issue wasn’t on the radar at the point in time when we were elected, if we clearly don’t have a mandate on this, maybe a referendum is the way to do this.”
Councillor Hank van der Horn disagreed, saying people would vote “without any information.”
”(They’ll say) I’ve used this for years and I’m not going to change. It’s not a very responsible way,” he said.
Councillor Paul Rochefort agreed, saying a referendum is “too blunt an instrument for this issue.”
But Doncaster said that if council does put the question on a referendum, it would be up to voters to make sure they are informed.
“And like any election, people will get what (result) they deserve,” he said.
http://www.magma.ca/~drcanrt/drdraftpestbyl.htm
Mayor Ann Aikens
Town of Deep River
mayor@deepriver.ca
L.H. Simons
Clerk-Administrator
lsimons@deepriver.ca
The Corporation of the Town of Deep River
P.O. Box 400,
100 Deep River Rd.
Deep River, Ontario
KOJ 1P0
Phone: (613) 584-2000
Fax: (613) 584-3237