Mortelliti's motion to block generator gets defeated
By Anneleen Naudts

Councillor Cleve Mortelliti wanted to send a clear message to the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) that a generating plant would not be welcome within King's borders.

He got a lot of public support at Monday night's council meeting, but his motion to send such as message lost in a close vote. Councillors Jeff Laidlaw and Jane Underhill backed the effort, but they were outvoted by Mayor Margaret Black and Councillors Linda Pabst, Bill Cober and Jack Rupke.

At this point, it is not known where the 350-mega watt peaker generating station is to be proposed in northern York Region, but there is a possibility it will be within King.

OPA announced Monday the five short listed companies for the proposal, but it is remaining tight-lipped on potential locations, said Township CAO Scott Somerville. He added OPA is now evaluating proposals, a process which could take up to eight months.

Only the final proposal will go through an environmental assessment process, advised Somerville. He added rezoning would also be required for any site in King.

Mortelliti said he couldn't see any benefit to having the generator in King. "I can't understand why we would entertain this," he remarked.

Somerville advised councillors wait for a comprehensive staff report on the possible generator, which he said would be brought before council in June.

It is the general consensus of staff that a process is already in place to respond to OPA, said Somerville, adding it is "somewhat premature" for the motion.

"We have a process, we have consultants and we will have a report," he said.

Somerville emphasized the decision is in council's hands, and the report is simply to "separate the wheat from the chaff."

Township lawyer Josie Matera too advised against passing the motion.

Matera explained a successful proposal would have to come before council for planning act approval, and said the motion would not preempt the planning process.

She said King would be in a better position if it could show the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) its decision is based on full information.

The Ministry of Energy has the power to exempt a proposal from the planning act, and King would not be able to fight the generator, explained Matera.

"We don't want to be in a position of zero power by putting the Ministry in a position to exempt a proposal," she advised.

Waiting for a staff report is "a far better position than to preempt, which you're effectively not able to do anyway," Matera added.

Black too suggested a process has to be followed in these cases, and agreed it is in the Township's best interest to stick to it. She said she was primarily concerned with acting responsible and strategically. "We don't want to prejudice our case," she added.

Deb Weiss, who has been helping to organize opposition to the generator, spoke in favour of the motion.

"We know enough to say 'no,'" she said, adding the facility is "not consistent with a clearly stated vision for a green King."

Weiss also said the results of an on-line survey will not be reliable, pointing to technical issues and questions which did not reflect concerns.

Weiss, who was part of an OPA working group in 2005, commented OPA incorrectly stated the people determined the need to build a generator. "I can assure you, at no time was it decided that a generator was the answer."

King City resident Harvey Tenenbaum said the project is neither needed nor wanted.

He disagreed with Matera, and believed it would be better if council would take a stand that King is "an unwilling host community."

Maury Silverstein's address to council was brief. "This seems like a deja-vu," he said, as he recalled council did not take a position with regard to the Holland March transformer station. Worried about a repeat scenario, Silverstein advised acting early this time around.

Shannon Gaskow asked council what benefit it expects to find for King in awaiting more information.

Black replied the advice is to legally position King so as to not harm people's position by preempting opposition to the generator. She added everyone on council was very concerned and didn't want to upset residents.

Black said it was important to figure out "how to properly protect ourselves so we can do what's best for King."

She likened passing the motion prematurely to going in front of a judge without expert evidence.

Strachan Bowen, who said he understood Somerville and Matera's position, agreed with the need for a professional, well-educated and prudent approach, but added he didn't see harm in affirming the fact King wants to stay green.

He suggested modifying the motion to indicate King's "not happy about" a proposed generator.

King City resident Bruce Craig saw merit in voicing King's stance. He said that once a proponent is identified, it would do whatever it can to make the facility happen. Therefore it is "best for us to have a position now."

Former councillor Steve Pellegrini said council has two roles; representation and administration. "Tonight you're asked to represent constituents," he said.

Henry Verbruggen, a director of the King Chamber of Commerce, expressed concern over reliable power for businesses. He said local businesses are more adversely impacted by an unreliable power supply than households, adding an adequate power is necessary to keep and attract businesses.

Verbruggen did not support the motion and called it "totally inappropriate and premature at this time."

Chair of Concerned Citizens of King Debbie Schaefer said she wanted to comment on an implication that there is a lack of concern for the businesses in King. She agreed there has to be a reliable source of power. She added this concern had been voiced at meetings on the transformer station going into the Holland Marsh, where Hydro One assured people the new station would alleviate the power supply problem.

Arthur Weiss, director of the Scientific Reserve station owned by the University of Toronto, asked on behalf of the university to protect the "scientific asset" used for ecology and climate change studies.

Laidlaw spoke in support of the motion. "We can't walk away from it," he said, adding that if people do not support the generator, council has a responsibility to respond to the people.

Underhill also voiced her support for the motion. She recalled the process for the transformer station, in which King was incorrectly told it had no choice. This time, people need to know the Township's not a willing host, she commented.

Rupke said it was a difficult position to be put in. He opted to wait for a staff report before taking a stance.

"The notice of motion is premature at this particular time," he remarked.

Mortelliti asked council to "stand up with integrity and fight back."

He also suggested sending the motion to Premier Dalton McGuinty.

In legal terms, "silence is consent," remarked Mortelliti.

"We have to be strategic," said Cober.

"We're on the same team," he added, saying there is no need for "pointing fingers at one another."

Cober said he wanted to make sure the Township is in a good position to defend itself should a site be identified within King. "We have to give (Matera) all we can in our arsenal," he said.

Pabst said that while a generator doesn't belong in the Township, she would follow the outlined process. "We must see it through, follow the advice of the solicitor and be responsible."

Black said she understood people's concerns, and said she's trying to do the right thing for King.