Ditch Infilling Vote

Summerside council rescinds ditch infilling co-pay policy after mayor breaks tie vote
MIKE CARSON Transcontinental Media
SUMMERSIDE — Who pays for ditch infilling remained a divisive issue right up until the end but when the votes were counted, city council had rescinded its 10 per cent co-pay policy and will now assume 100 per cent of the ditch infilling costs.The vote brings to an end one of the most contentious and divisive issues to go before city council in years.As expected, the vote was tied 4-4 with the deciding ballot in the hands of Summerside Mayor Basil Stewart.The mayor said publicly last week that if it came to his vote, he would vote to eliminate the tax.A crowd of about 50 residents applauded the final vote.“I’m very pleased that this has finally been put to bed and this ditch infilling issue has gone away,” said St. Eleanors resident Ray Howatt.Howatt was one of several residents who has fought long and hard to have the 10 per cent charge to property owners for ditch infilling eliminated.“It has been a dividing factor between the old city core and the amalgamated regions since day one,” he said. “It’s been nothing but a thorn in everybody’s side, including the councillors.”There was some confusion on the part of councillors over the wording of the vote. The initial motion said the elimination of the 10 per cent policy would become effective on Jan. 18, 2010. Councillors supporting the elimination of the tax quickly suggested the intent of the motion was to set the effective date as of Jan. 2009 so those residents opposing the tax would not have to pay.That raised the ire of Coun. Brent Gallant, who has strongly supported keeping the tax. He said altering the effective date for the bylaw was never discussed at the committee or the council level.“It may have been discussed outside by the four people who were contrary to it (the tax),” he said. “Coun. (Ron) Dowling had a motion out there and you saw his reaction as well as I did when it was suggested this should go back retroactive. All of a sudden there was a parley of the minds to follow through with that and put it on. It wasn’t discussed.”Gallant said residents of the old town paid a 50 per cent abutment charge which was lowered to 10 per cent following amalgamation in 1995. All residents have paid the fee — until now.Gallant said with this vote by council all city residents, not just those getting their ditches infilled, will have to shoulder the cost.“It’s not an issue of the city affording it, it’s an issue of fairness and being fair to all taxpayers,” he said.

The vote:
Coun. Ron Dowling: eliminate the tax;
Coun. Cory Thomas: eliminate the tax;
Coun. Garth Lyle: eliminate the tax;
Deputy Mayor Bruce MacDougall: eliminate the tax;
Coun. Brent Gallant: maintain the tax;
Coun. Vance Bridges: maintain the tax;
Coun. Norma McColeman: maintain the tax;
Coun. Barry Chappell: maintain the tax;
Mayor Basil Stewart: eliminate the tax.