Dear Editor:
Oh Summerland! Where do we go from here?
I wish to make the record clear with regard to the adjournment of the public hearing dealing with the removal of some 200 acres of prime agricultural land from the Agricultural Land Reserve in our community.
I arrived about 15 minutes prior to the commencement time of the hearing held on March 3.
At that time there were 50 to 60 people locked out of the building (and it was cold.)
I was allowed in on the understanding that I would seek to have the hearing postponed to another day in a larger facility.
Upon entering I went directly to Mayor Janice Perrino and advised her that the hearing had to be adjourned in view of the fact of the number of persons excluded.
I was advised by her that pen and paper had been left outside so people could write their views.
I advised her that did not satisfy the legislation governing public hearing and that if the meeting proceeded there could be legal consequences.
As reported on local TV my words fell on deaf ears.
At the next meeting Mayor Perrino had obviously been told she had made a big mistake.
She purportedly adjourned the hearing so a second hearing could be held.
Unfortunately, it appears that the proceeding on March 3 are null and void.
In simple terms this means that the 400 or so citizens who showed up and the 50 or so who spoke may have wasted their time.
The mayor also announced at that meeting that there would be a town hall meeting so that those whom have not seen the wisdom of removing this precious land from the ALR can be educated.
Kind of makes you wonder who’s not listening.
Brian Adams
Summerland