Council closes the books on downtown median issue

Council closes the books on downtown median issue

CYNTHIA GAMBLE Staff Writer Georgetown resident David Harley failed to get the majority of council to change its mind on retaining the median during the reconstruction next year. Harley was a delegation at last Monday's council meeting (June 26) saying he spoke for the "silent majority" who do not want the median. Referring to the median as a "Berlin Wall", he said it creates traffic and pedestrian crossing problems, is an obstacle for emergency vehicles, and is a waste of property when sidewalks could be widened for merchants' sales. Harley accused council of making a rushed decision in this election year. The current eight-foot wide median will be reduced to four feet when Main JANE St., from Church St. to George St., is FOGAL reconstructed next year at a cost of $1.2 million. Regional Councillor Jane Fogal said it was clear how the public was thinking and the majority, who expressed an opinion, wanted the median retained. The compromise she said was to make the median smaller, so that sidewalks could still be widened. In the 106 comments received from the public, 64 (60%) voted to retain the island, 36 (34%) voted to remove it and widen the sidewalk and six (6%) had no opinion. While Harley did not attend the public meeting, he did submit a letter to the project manager. Once again, Ward 3 Councillor Mike Davis tried to get the decision deferred for another two weeks for more public consultation. But he failed to even get a seconder for his motion. Council, in a 10-1 vote, approved the staff report. The Town intends to set up a section on its website, www.haltonhills.ca, on the Main St. project so area residents can be kept informed on its status and look at the design drawings. (Cynthia Gamble can be reached at cgamble@independentfreepress.com)