For the first time in Strathroy-Caradoc’s 21-year amalgamation history of municipal elections, a local challenger candidate is taking their campaign on the press release road. Mayoral candidate Colin Grantham released a statement questioning the sale of municipal lands and the sale of the the former Seniors Centre, centering out a lack of municipal transparency and accountability and pointing fingers at municipal offices, including the office of the CAO.
Grantham stated “As written total control for the sale of land, once declared surplus is given to the chief accounting officer (CAO), who controls how the land is listed for sale and has “sole discretion” to reject an offer.
myFM reached out for comment from Grantham’s opponent currently being incumbent Joanne Vanderheyden and she released a statement a day later saying “Council policies are always open to Council discussion and the new Council may want to adopt new ones or revisit others. The CAO does not have the authority to buy or sell land as such transactions must always be confirmed by way of a by-law approved by Council.”
Here are the complete media releases from both Mayoral candidates.
Mayoral Candidate Colin Grantham
Strathroy-Caradoc citizens have an expectation that their elected leaders will practice good governance, including the principles of transparency, accountability and oversight. But the sale of Seniors Centre and the bylaw allowing for the disposition of that public asset do not adhere to those principles. The sale of public assets like land and buildings must be dealt with in an open and transparent manner because the public has a right to know.
There are several unanswered questions regarding the sale of the Seniors Centre, including how the property was listed for sale? Whether it was listed publicly? When it was listed? Was this a sole source negotiation and were other offers available?
These are simple questions that do not compromise any on-going negotiations and should be forthcoming. Citizens, as the ultimate owners of the property, have a right to know these things. But the sale of the Seniors Centre is a symptom of a larger issue: the bylaw on the sale and disposition of surplus land.
This bylaw (known as bylaw 64-20) must be repealed and reworked to allow for more oversight by elected officials. As written total control for the sale of land, once declared surplus is given to the chief accounting officer (CAO), who controls how the land is listed for sale and has “sole discretion” to reject an offer. Those two words allow the CAO to act with impunity on the sale of public land without any accountability.
Our elected officials have given this authority to the CAO, who is simply exercising the power given. The bylaw, as written, does not compel the CAO to report to council any offer they receive. They can simply reject any offer. This does not have the hallmarks of accountability or transparency. Once land is declared surplus, the CAO is given free reign to do as they please without any council oversight. This is an abdication of
responsibility by our elected officials and one that must be corrected.
By-Law 64-20 does not serve the interests of the citizens of Strathroy-Caradoc. Our elected officials have given too much power to un-elected staff, and it must be taken back. At the least this By-Law should be re-written to allow for proper oversight and accountability. As well we need to shine light on the sale of the Senior’s Centre.
Mayoral Incumbent Joanne Vanderheyden:
The Disposition of Land Policy was adopted publicly and received the unanimous support of Council.
· Council policies are always open to Council discussion and the new Council may want to adopt new ones or revisit others.
· The CAO does not have the authority to buy or sell land as such transactions must always be confirmed by way of a by-law approved by Council.
· Whether an offer is received or rejected is not a report that would take place in public as it compromises the municipality’s position.
· The suggestion that the Council has conferred all authority to the CAO is incorrect, Council has approval authority
· This is a transaction which has been the subject of a number of public reports
· We have no record of Colin Grantham attending or making any comments on any of those items.
· Public information related to 137 Frank St can be found in the Council Minutes/Agendas in the searchable database on the municipality’s website
· The transaction is being handled in accordance with the Disposition of Land Policy (which does not require a ‘For Sale’ listing) with public Notice posted (https://www.strathroy-caradoc.ca/en/news/notice-of-declaration-of-surplus-land-137-frank-street-strathroy.aspx) of the surplus land declaration made in accordance with the policy.
· The report recommending the lands be declared surplus was posted in the public Agenda on Dec. 16/20 and the matter decided at the public meeting of December 21/20.
· Notice of the Declaration was posted Dec. 22/20. All of this is public information and available on the Municipality’s website.
The parties are continuing to perform their due diligence toward closing the transaction. When, and if, the transaction closes additional information/documentation will be provided and the sale completed in public by by-law. Until the transaction closes the property may continue to be the subject of negotiation with the current purchaser or another and, as a result, details will remain confidential to protect the municipality’s interest. The most recent update appeared on the January 17, 2022 agenda.
Written by: C. Soares