Amid a chorus of boos from the public gallery at Council’s Monday night meeting, Clearview Township voted – for the second time – not to save the 100-year-old Collingwood Street bridge.
The vote was 5 to 3 not to direct Clearview Staff (in consultation with the County of Simcoe) to review the request to make the bridge a culturally significant heritage property. Deputy Mayor Alicia Savage and Councillors Thom Paterson and Shawn Davidson voted against replacing the single-lane steel truss bridge with a two-lane concrete structure.
Although the bridge falls under the jurisdiction of Simcoe County, according to the provincial Heritage Act, Clearview Township could have designated it a heritage site. However, it voted not to do so on Monday, October 21 without hearing a planned presentation from a community group trying to save the bridge.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Barry Burton, who made the presentation at this week’s meeting urging Council to change its mind and give the bridge a heritage designation. “I’m disappointed,” said Burton after the vote. “But the committee is going to meet and we’re going to figure out our next plan of attack.”
About 65 members of the public attended Monday’s meeting to show their support. During Burton’s presentation, one supporter held up a “Save our bridge” sign.
“What is so aggravating about this whole thing,” said Christine Boake,“is that they passed this before even seeing the presentation.”
Earlier, Boake had told Council, “This was your opportunity to show County and the community and prove that you care. You have the power to do it and the support of the people, as well.”
“Council made a decision on October 21,” said Mayor Ken Ferguson. “We’ve been working on this for two years. We’ve had public meetings and listened to difference of opinion. I thought [Simcoe County’s proposal to replace the bridge] was a reasonably good solution that represented both sides.”
Mayor Ferguson stuck to the Simcoe County report that recommended the bridge be rebuilt to address safety concerns. “I think what the County has come up with is the right thing.”
Burton began his presentation by introducing members of his committee who have professional, international experience in bridge building including urban designer, John Hillier, and structural engineer, John Boote.
He then set out to debunk some myths about the Collingwood Street bridge saying steel bridges do not require more maintenance than concrete bridges; single-lane bridges are permitted by the Ministry of Transportation; and the Collingwood Street bridge meets heritage requirements.
Showing photographs of the more than 250 people who came to celebrate the bridge’s 100th birthday last June 29, Burton said the movement to save the bridge had “huge public support,” which included original builder J.J. Dumond’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Burton also presented letters of support from the Purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society, Creemore Area Residents’ Association (CARA), MPP Jim Wilson and MP Kellie Leitch.
His presentation was followed by comments from a number of community members who spoke in favour of giving the bridge a heritage designation.
John Wiggins implored the Council members to “look with their conscience and their hearts, because governance is both of those things.”
Greg Young of CARA said the bridge’s “single lane causes us to slow down and appreciate Creemore and the community and reflect on the role it plays.”
In a poetic treatise, Chris Raible asked the Councillors “not to rush or be ‘mad’,” referring to the Mad River, named for its fast-rushing waters, he explained. “Pause a little longer, explore some of the issues… so that everyone here fully understands. Lots of people haven’t discussed the bridge for two years; even you are still learning.”
The Township’s Procedural By-law prohibits Council from reconsidering a topic it has already made a decision about, unless the majority of Council members vote to reconsider the topic. The motion to reconsider the October 21 decision was made by Councillor Paterson, seconded by Deputy Mayor Savage, and accepted.
Councillor Paterson urged his fellow Council members not to rush into a decision. “There is reason to consider what this committee is doing. Don’t jump into a final decision without taking into account their points and going back to the County, if necessary.”
But in the end, Council decided not to go that route. Councillor Paterson’s motion to consider the residents’ desire to preserve the bridge, the bridge’s 100-year history, the Ministry’s acknowledgement of the merits of its conservation, Clearview’s new heritage conversation project and that the deficiencies can be addressed under Ministry of Transportation guidelines, did not pass.
“The discussion leading up to the vote demonstrated a clear need on the part of Council to better understand the heritage conservation process and the facts of the local committee’s proposal,” Councillor Paterson wrote in a follow-up email to the Echo. “It will take the open and innovative participation of all parties to see this project through to full restoration of the bridge. That Council decided on Monday night not to engage with their residents only strengthens public resolve to see the Collingwood Street Bridge restored.”
“This is a perfect example of how Council doesn’t listen to the public,” said Burton. “It’s not rocket science: spend a million, save a million, make the residents of Creemore happy and save a bridge.”