Council Candidate John Clark

Q1: Meaford is experiencing dynamic growth. How do you see ratepayers’ involvement in that growth? What role do you see the community playing in establishing the common direction and longer-term priorities?

The common direction should be higher property values for everyone.

Q2: Would you support the development of an active community-based Advisory Committee for planning and development?

Yes, so long as it didn’t cost us much.

Q3: Currently, Meaford Council has just two Advisory Committees: Heritage and Accessibility. Prior to this current Council, there were seven advisory committees. Given that advisory committees facilitate public input into important matters, would you reinstate other advisory committees? And how would you ensure they are used effectively in the next term of Council?

 I am willing to listen to any worthwhile input from any forum.

Q4: What is the role of Council and the Municipality in supporting the development of downtown Meaford? In rural areas? Please provide examples.

Regarding downtown Meaford; we need a collective vision of the council, property owners and taxpayers. This has been done elsewhere with a positive result. It is much the same for the rural areas. Do farm families want to pass down their farms to the next generation or do they want to sell for a high price to developers?

Q5: What role does Meaford’s “Official Plan” have in guiding development?

Planning, zoning and building codes are what municipal governments do. If we get it right, property value goes up and property tax revenues increase. This is why I want to be elected. We can do better.

Q6: If a development project does not appear to meet Official Plan requirements (like the SkyDev proposal), what should Council do to ensure the project is in the best interest of Meaford and its citizens?

If it doesn’t meet the official plan, it shouldn’t go ahead. There must be a process to make keep the developer within the official plan. If there isn’t we’ve lost part of democracy.

Q7: Should Council members or municipal staff meet with developers prior to a development application being submitted? What is your understanding of them role in such meetings? Can you give us an example of what you would do in that position?

Yes, all communication is potentially beneficial. We already know a developer is interested in profit. The council’s motives should be increased property value and increased property tax revenue. The council should also consider does the development improve the look of the community and the quality of life? Will the structures stand the test of time or will they quickly look run down? Beautiful architecture is highly important to any community. We seem to be missing that not only in Meaford, but in all of Ontario. Money spent isn’t always money spent well. Not all development is beneficial in the long run.

Q8: There are many issues that need to be addressed in the coming four-year term, including the TCE pumped energy project, affordable housing, job creation, the downtown heritage district, business development, climate change, tourism, and a host of infrastructure needs supporting agriculture, bridges, roads, water and sewer and urban green spaces. What, in your opinion, are the most urgent issues to address?

These are all front and centre issues to me. If we get it right and if we elect an effective council, we can make a positive impact in all of these areas.

Q9: The TCE Pumped Storage Proposal will be decided by the federal government. What is your position on the project, and what role do you think the Meaford Council has as the project moves through approvals?

Whatever influence we have should be used to oppose it. I don’t think this proposal is beneficial to the community. Wasting electricity is morally wrong even if a big company can profit by doing so.

Q10: As a member of Council, how will you work with local and county/regional partners and Meaford's CAO and staff to move the Municipality forward on the issues listed in Q8? Can you provide any examples?

I have thought about the issues in question 8 for literally decades. As a councillor, I want a chance to state my ideas. My hope is that others will see merit in my ideas. For an example I want Meaford’s downtown to be a hive of economic activity. I seen Niagara- On- the- Lake go from having an empty main street to one where the crowd was standing shoulder to shoulder. I know how it was achieved and I know we can do it here.