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Friends of the Cawthra Bush & Greater Mississauga Area
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Opening comments - more at end. Fellow Councillors tear into Councillor Culham and deny what we know is fact. A lot more needs to be said here, in the future. Aug. 18, 1989 Mississauga News - Article - Page - 3 Bird house rally to save shelter Cat lovers' pleas fall on deaf ears By JOHN STEWART - Staff Reporter Mayor Hazel McCallion was half-a-world away from the city council in Mississauga Wednesday, but she still managed to dominate it. Supporters of the Burnhamthorpe Cat. Shelter were out in force to try to convince city council to reverse its decision of June 14 to give Brian and Lois Stevens 120 days to vacate the City-owned lands where they run the shelter on the east bank of the Credit River. But right from the beginning of the meeting, it was obvious that councillors were not prepared to reopen the question - especially in McCallion's absence. She was attending the World Conference of Mayors in Paris, France. McCallion has strongly supported the action to force the Stevenses to leave the home, saying the structure is considered unsafe and that they have violated both their lease and the animal control bylaw by operating the shelter. Acting mayor Frank Dale made it plain at the outset of the meeting that he would entertain questions of deputants only, unless the earlier decision was reopened. Ward 6 councillor David Culham, who lost the 8-2 vote in June to get the shelter a reprieve, had tried but failed to find a councillor willing to reopen the question. Culham circulated a memorandum to councillors outlining his strong feelings against council's decision. The memo upset at least one of his colleagues. Maja Prentice said parts of the memo "don't reflect any statements made by councillors, or by council as a whole. In my opinion the statements are an interpretation and, in my opinion, they are totally incorrect." Culham replied that he could provide "documented evidence" for all of the statements in the memo. One of them, which concerned Prentice, was the statement that "the impression persists because of staff and council's comments that the Stevenses are up to ‘public mischief', that they have broken a promise, and they are running a business." Ward 9 councillor Ted Southorn explained that he had mistakenly thought at one point that the Stevenses were selling the cats they rehabilitate at their own expense and adopt out to responsible owners. Ward 7 councillor Nando Iannicca said he was concerned that statements reflecting on the mayor were being made "without her being here to defend herself which is terribly inappropriate." Culham's memorandum accused the mayor of issuing a press release "timed to offset support" at a Save The Cats rally July 23. The memo said the City would cooperate with the Ontario Humane Society (OHS) to find a. location for its planned shelter in the City by the end of they year. Culham complained that McCallion had ordered staff to take action on something "with no involvement of this council and the ward councillor." He represents the area where the animal control centre is now located. One of the proposals is to put the OHS shelter in a building beside the animal centre. Culham says the building is totally inappropriate for the purpose. The site search, without council approval "is unprecedented in this City since 1974," charged Culham. City manager Doug Lychak said the search is "not terribly unusual." From time to time, staff assist in site searches when requested to do so by Community groups. "We had a request from the mayor to see if we have something vacant which could be available," Lychak said. Only one location "even closely fits"' what the OHS requires, he added. Culham also said in his memo that the mayor had asked for a two-month deferral of the eviction of the Stevenses while the shelter search went on. The release said McCallion had agreed to a request to ask council to consider a postponement of the closure until the end of the year. But the mayor said when the (r)elease was issued that she had agreed only that the OHS could ask for such an extension if it wanted. Council should not have dealt with the cat shelter property at all, Culham argued, because it decided last January not to take any action on the shelter until a comprehensive review of the entire range of animal care services, including the private shelters was completed. Lychak said that report should, be available in September. After hearing six people who want the cat shelter saved (see story on page 6), council decided to refer Culham's memorandum to a future meeting where the mayor will be present. Lychak is also to prepare a status on the search for a site for the shelter in Mississauga. PHOTO (By David Burnett ); 4, see below CAPTION; Supporters of the Burnhamthorpe Cat Shelter donned cardboard caps Wed. To tell city council that they favor saving the cat sanctuary on the City-owned Bird property. Lois Stevens (bottom left) failed to win a reprieve despite the support of Rita Kirk (centre) and lawyer, Paul Reinhardt. The battle will continue at a future meeting. PLEEASSE SIGN OUR PETITION It will make a difference! Home Page - Main Table of Contents - Back up a page - Back to Top [COMMENTS BY DON B. - ] |
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