Historic Ford City has launched a new marketing campaign to tout its resurgence. July 26, 2018. (Photo by Paul Pedro)Historic Ford City has launched a new marketing campaign to tout its resurgence. July 26, 2018. (Photo by Paul Pedro)
Windsor

One Windsor BIA says no to the CAMPP appeal

Windsor's mayor says one local business improvement association won't financially support the hospital zoning appeal.

Mayor Drew Dilkens told reporters following Tuesday afternoon's special council meeting that he had heard from the Ford City BIA that it has decided not to go through with its pledge to support the drive by the Citizens for an Accountable Mega-hospital Planning Process (CAMPP). The grassroots group, opposed to placing the new regional hospital on County Road 42, is raising money for its legal defence as it takes the hospital zoning issue before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT).

"They only made a pledge, as I understand it, of $250, and it was subject to approval by their general membership," said Dilkens. "I think they just pulled it off the table and decided not to send that money in."

Shane Potvin, chairman of the Ford City BIA, confirmed to BlackburnNewsWindsor.com that they are not sending a financial backing for the CAMPP appeal.

"The Ford City BIA will not be pledging any funds to CAMPP," said Potvin in an email. "This was decided by our board over a week ago and not in reaction to the mayor’s press conference on the matter."

Dilkens held a media conference at City Hall on Friday afternoon, stating that local BIAs who have already contributed to the CAMPP appeal may violate the Ontario Municipal Act since BIA budgets and board appointments are subject to the approval of Windsor City Council.

"Clearly there were no mentions in any of the budgets of the BIAs that they were supporting a third-party appeal of a city council planning matter," Dilkens said Tuesday. "Our legal opinion is that the BIAs' actions to support the third-party are outside of what the Municipal Act allows them to do."

The Downtown Windsor, Wyandotte Town Centre and Via Italia BIAs have contributed to the CAMPP appeal, either vocally or financially.

A report on the matter will be studied by councillors later this week, and an item concerning BIA budgets is on the agenda for the next regular city council meeting, on Monday at 6 p.m. in council chambers.

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