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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday January 12, 2007 - 3 Mayor says controversy giving Oakville a black eye Continued from page 1 Service committee eventually voted to recommend the Town commit the money from its 2006 surplus. That recommendation will be considered by Town council at its meeting on Jan. 29. But the proposed contribution wasn't popular with everyone. Local resident Linda BaCosta urged councillors to vote against spending taxpayers' money on the project. "I really think, if "I really you're interested in think, if you're trees in Oakville, interested in look at planting trees in Oakville, some trees in parks, look at planting some trees in or in some place parks, or in some where we can truly place where we enjoy them." can truly enjoy them," she said. Local resident Her comLinda BaCosta ments were echoed by resident Russ Robertson, who said he was concerned about the health of the tree and believes the town would be better served by planting new oak trees away from the road. Robertson said he wasn't opposed to the fundraising initiative, but doesn't want the town to chip in public money. "If they want to do that with their dime, I'm fine with that, but I don't want to see any taxpayers' dimes wasted on it," he said. The proposed deal was also not popular with Ward 2 Councillor Fred Oliver, who was the only Oakville councillor to vote against it during the Halton regional meeting. On Tuesday night, Oliver introduced a motion calling for the decision to be deferred until the public was given an opportunity to meet with council to discuss the matter. After Oliver's motion was defeated, the committee considered a motion from Burton recommending the cash contribution. And while that motion was eventually approved, several councillors suggested they CENTRE OF CONTROVERSY: While this 250-year-old white oak tree received fundraising support for its continued existence on Bronte Road, some residents object to taxpayers' money being used to save it. were less concerned with the process for the road. fate of the oak tree than with "The best way out "I'm personally not prethe ramifications of not approvpared to roll the dice on this of this mess, as ing the deal. thing," he said, suggesting "The best way out of this I see it, is to spend that the financial downside of mess, as I see it, is to spend the the $25,000." further complications could $25,000," said Ward 3 be considerably greater than Ward 3 Regional Councillor Keith Bird. $25,000. Bird said he is afraid that Councillor Keith Bird Ward 5 Councillor Jeff efforts by the Heritage Oakville Knoll also urged against advisory committee to designate the tree delaying the decision. under the Ontario Heritage Act will result in "There is a cost for us to continue the legal fees for both the town and region, and debate on this issue," he said, pointing to could jeopardize the environmental approval issues such as paid staff time and research costs. "The meter just keeps running." Knoll also suggested that the Woodland Oak Tree Preservation Committee be requested to continue fundraising efforts, to reduce the Town's costs from $25,000. Following the meeting, residents opposed to the tree bail-out gathered to plot future strategy. BaCosta said she is collecting signatures on a petition urging the town not to spend the money, and intends to return with a group of supporters when the issue comes before Town council later this month. Burton said he remains confident Town Council will approve the expenditure, and believes the money will be well-spent to get the issue out of national and international headlines. "This has cost us millions of "This has cost us dollars in bad publicity," said millions of dollars in Burton, describ- bad publicity. I think ing the issue as the damage being "a black eye" for done to us was the community. worth $25,000, or "I think the damage being $35,000 to end." done to us was Oakville Mayor worth $25,000, Rob Burton or $35,000 to end." Burton dismissed criticism of his decision to publicly commit the Town to spending the money during the meeting at the Region. He said he based his comments on the fact that Oakville council had already voted to urge the Region to spend public money to save the tree. "There was no shortage of votes to have the taxpayers save the tree," he said. "I have no regrets about getting a better deal for the Oakville taxpayer than it was otherwise going to be." 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