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07 | 11 | 2015 VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 28
JACKS GO LOCAL IN HIRING TEAM’S NEW COACH SPORTS PAGE 11
COMMENT PAGE 8
WYNNE SET ON A COURSE OPPOSED TO PUBLIC INTEREST
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Shantz stripped of mayoralty
CLEANING UP AFTER SOMEONE ELSE’S MESS
Woolwich mayor deemed to be in default for failing to file audited expense report; plans to seek reinstatement in appeal to court STEVE KANNON
Michelle Shannon and John Weber are thankful Safety Kleen, Aevitas and Waste Management chipped in to remove 24 barrels of hazardous materials illegally dumped at their sugar bush near Conestogo. Inset: Rob Cook (Ontario Waste Management Association), Byron Day (Aevitas), John Weber, Michelle Shannon, Michael Harris (Kitchener-Conestoga MPP), Luiza Adsett (Waste Management) and Ed Glavina (Safety Kleen). [SCOTT BARBER / THE OBSERVER]
Last of toxins cleared from Conestogo site Province needs to do more for victims of illegal dumping, says MPP SCOTT BARBER Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Michael Harris is calling for changes at the Ministry of the Environment following the illegal dumping of toxic waste at sugar bush near Conestogo this spring. Harris joined property
owners Michelle Shannon and John Weber at their farm on Weeby Place Thursday morning while cleanup crews worked to remove the last few loads of affected soil. “It’s thanks to the good work of the (Ontario Waste Management Association), Safety Kleen, Aevitas and
Waste Management that this unfortunate situation was able to be handled and resolved,” Harris said, noting that since public authorities refused to help with the cleanup, it was a number of private companies who stepped in to help, free of charge. “The fact that property owners
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who are victims of illegal dumping, like Michelle Shannon and John Weber, are often further victimized by a system that often points to the property owners’ responsibility for removal.” Had the dumping taken
The mayor’s seat in Woolwich is vacant as Sandy Shantz waits for a court date in a bid to be reinstated. Having failed to file an audited statement of election expenses by the March 27 deadline, Shantz was automatically removed from the position under the terms of Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act. Shantz was served a notice of default by the township Wednesday afternoon. The move comes less than a week after a Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee (MECAC) decision to dismiss an application by Elmira resident Alan Marshall for a review of Shantz’s election filing. Shantz acknowledged her original expense report
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was inaccurate, submitting a new, audited statement to the committee. With that, MECAC members saw no need for an additional audit, dismissing Marshall’s application. Marshall argued, however, that the act was clear in stating that Shantz was in default by failing to submit the proper paperwork before the deadline, filing additional claims with the township and the audit committee in the days following the hearing. That prompted Woolwich to seek out legal advice, culminating in the notice of default served July 8. “At last week’s MECAC hearing, Mayor Shantz submitted an audit reflecting campaign finances in excess of $10,000. In light SHANTZ | 24
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