Another Tid Bit

I can't always keep up with it and lots of things aren't announced in a Town Media Alert. It's a selective process.

By an OMB order, the town recently had to refund $139,000 plus interest to the York Region Separate School Board. We had charged fees for cash- in- lieu of parks on the basis of the price they had to pay to assemble the land.

The Board obtained an appraisal of the land which placed its value lower. But the town wasn't prepared to accept the appraised figure, so the dispute went to an OMB on an appeal by School Board . How ridiculous is that.

It involved lawyers. The Board had their own. We had to retain an external lawyer.

There was a pre-hearing and a hearing. Lawyer's letters in camera meetings and consultation with the town solicitor.
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My guess legal fees for our side would be no less that $40.Ks.

I have to guess because they won't tell me what it cost.

So the over-all deficit to us was almost $200ks.

Other municipalities exclude public bodies and agencies from cash in lieu of parks fees.

Well think about it. Students in school live in the community. They don't create a need for more parks. School boards share their facilities with municipalities that reduces the need for sports facilities.

School boards collect taxes from the same pockets.

But the good old boys and girls of the town needed their pound of flesh. They retained a lawyer to keep it , took up Ontario Municipal Board time which also cost taxpayers money, and that of the Separate School Board .

We were wrong. Who pays for the error. .

Well, we do silly.