View Royal residents leading the charge against the townB次元官网网址檚 borrowing of $8 million for a new fire hall say they have received enough forms to overturn the Alternative Approval Process (AAP).
Residents had until today, July 11, to get forms into town hall rejecting the loan. The final number received is not yet known. If more than 700 residents sign the forms, View Royal town council will have to either take the issue to referendum or revise their plan.
Kimberlee Saladana describes herself as the B次元官网网址渜uarterbackB次元官网网址� of the ad hoc group of residents hoping to raise awareness about the AAP. Through pamphlets and community networking, the group has been encouraging residents to fill out the forms stating that they do not approve the townB次元官网网址檚 proposed loan.
B次元官网网址淭hat group has just grown. People are coming out of the woodwork,B次元官网网址� Saladana said. B次元官网网址淚 have perfect strangers coming around to my door dropping off forms.B次元官网网址�
While the group has admitted their initial information pamphlets did contain some inaccuracies, as pointed out by Coun. David Screech in the June 29 edition of the Gazette, the general points of opposition remain the same.
Their main concerns are that residents have not been kept informed, that $8 million seems high for a community of View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 size, that the AAP is undemocratic and that no other options have been brought forward.
B次元官网网址淧eople just donB次元官网网址檛 seem to have an appetite for an $8 million loan,B次元官网网址� Saladana said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 only 3,500 taxpayers. Either way you cut it, weB次元官网网址檙e on the hook.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Heidi Rast, chair of protective services, said she thinks the group is going about opposing the loan the wrong way.
She said that some residents have been waiting outside of town hall to talk to people coming in to pay their property taxes. She has also heard complaints from people saying they have been B次元官网网址渁ggressively hassled.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 just find that so inappropriate,B次元官网网址� Rast said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 disappointed with that kind of tactic.B次元官网网址�
Rast said she will be disappointed if this group forces a referendum, because all of the councillors campaigned on the promise to build a new fire hall and, as far as she is concerned, the process to do so has been open and honest throughout.
B次元官网网址淭heir argument about being non-democratic is just a bunch of crap as far as IB次元官网网址檓 concerned,B次元官网网址� Rast said. B次元官网网址淭his is a legal process that weB次元官网网址檙e allowed to do as a municipality, so I donB次元官网网址檛 buy that argument.B次元官网网址�
And while Saladana thinks otherwise, sheB次元官网网址檚 also clear that she believes town staff are just doing their jobs. She also said View RoyalB次元官网网址檚 volunteer firefighters certainly deserve a workplace that is safe and comfortable. However, she questions whether this is the right option and why council seems intent on putting it through with what she sees as minimal public engagement.
B次元官网网址淚 do get why government would choose to go with the AAP. Having said that, I think that people view it as sneaky business and it gets people a little riled up,B次元官网网址� Saladana said. B次元官网网址淧erhaps, with a really solid education campaign, they could have just gone directly to referendum and gotten people to rally behind them.B次元官网网址�
kwells@goldstreamgazette.com
