As negotiations continue between the three towns and townships that pull water from the Collingwood Water Treatment Plant, Collingwood council passed a motion this week to add clarity to who exactly represents them at those negotiations.
During Tuesday’s special council meeting, Deputy Mayor Keith Hull put a motion on the floor to make it clear that Collingwood’s Chief Administrative Officer would be the main point of contact in negotiations concerning municipal water agreements between Collingwood, New Tecumseth and the Town of the Blue Mountains.
As part of Hull’s motion, which was passed unanimously by council on Thursday, CAO Sonya Skinner will be providing an update on an agreement between the Town of Collingwood and the New Tecumseth Township at council’s July 19 meeting.
As an update on Thursday, Skinner said the Town of Collingwood is “getting close” to an agreement with New Tecumseth.
“There are a couple of wrinkles that are remaining to be ironed out. One includes the securities for the construction contract. We also have, potentially, the future of the pipeline between here and New Tecumseth, which may be under the agreement, or potentially we may want to sever it for a separate discussion because it may take longer,” she said.
Skinner said part of the agreement could include a return of some water from New Tecumseth to Collingwood.
“There’s a possibility the negotiations could be complete by that time,” said Skinner.
During a meeting on April 26, town council passed an interim control bylaw that prohibits any new construction unless the project already has a building permit from the town. The one-year moratorium was suggested by town staff because the water treatment plant is running out of capacity for new development.
The town has been in negotiations with New Tecumseth and the Town of the Blue Mountains to deal with the capacity issues as well as a future plant expansion. Staff are working on a new agreement with New Tecumseth as the old contract expired in May 2020, but the towns have continued to follow the terms set in the expired agreement.
As much as 35 to 50 per cent of the Collingwood plant’s capacity is sent to Blue Mountains and New Tecumseth.
On Thursday, Coun. Mariane McLeod asked how this motion differed from a previously passed motion for the CAO to provide updates to council on municipal water negotiations during every meeting until the interim control bylaw is lifted.
“I think there’s a clear difference between an update on a regular basis before council about what’s happening, and giving clear instructions that we want one person running the ship as to what’s going on with New Tec and Blue. And, that we want a conclusion to a process that has been going on for far too long,” said Hull.
Previous to the motion being passed, CAO Skinner had been working on the file along with director of public works, engineering and environmental services Peggy Slama.
“I’m assuming this motion’s intent is not to prohibit you from also using the expertise of the public works director?” asked Coun. Steve Berman.
Hull responded.
“My intent is that the CAO is allowed to do her job,” said Hull. “My intent is when it comes to reporting to this council, I want to hear from the CAO.”
“I hope (this) will provide the framework to bring, frankly, an exhaustive process to a conclusion,” said Hull.
