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We are not asking that the entire By-law and attached "Agreement"
document be thrown out. We ask only that the rights of the
property owner to refuse, to nefotiate, of to appeal proposed .or
requested statutory rifnts—ol-way over real property "Ir

Tor a sum
mot to exceed One Dollar ($1.00)" be inserted in the relevant By-law
and its "Agreement" document; and that acquisition of statutory
rights-of-way over real property be discussed and dealt with
in open Council meeting, not behind closed doors. We have worked
hard for our land, all of us, and whenever any individual's land,
or statutory rights-of-way over that land, are “acguired" by
& government body, it snould be done openly, publicly, ina.
democratic forum,

Perhaps we should feel sorry for Mr. Freeman when he bemoans

“the exercise through which the Council, the staff, and most

importantly the citizens, have been put by the endless discussion

over this harmless By-law." But, let us remind Mr. Freeman that

this “endless” discussion has taken some 45 minutes of City Council's
time, on the evening of Monday, January 21, 1980. Considering

that there were 43 people represented on the "declaration of opposition,"
presented at that Meeting, City Council has given us publicly

one minute per citizen. m,

The residents and property owners concerned about this matter
devoted, for their part, considerable time, concentration, and
effort to addressing this issue, without benefit of tax-payers '

money, salary, or City Hall's clerical amenities.

Perhaps Mr. Freeman chooses +o call this a "harmless By-law," but,

for someone confronted by the City with a demand for statutory
rights-of-way over real property "for a sum not to exceed One Dollar
($1.00), "the possibility of losing actual land or '. market value

on his cr her property because of not knowing his or her rights

to refuse, to negotiate, or to appeai is not a “harmless" fact of life.

I do not believe that, even in a democracy, a few should suffer

for many, and that one property owner should lose money, or suffer
financial harm, for the convenience and pleasure of many. Let us
use all our taxes te pay fairly, honestly,for what we take and need.

I, for one, value the delights and deliverances of democracy.

Rather than have Mr. Freeman, or any other City Official, feel
compelled to send out another 5-page letter of explanation to any
individual affected by this macver, let one simple sentence
outlining property owners' rights to refuse, to negotiate, or to appeal
requested or proposed statutory rights-of~way over real property
be added to the proposed By-law and its "Agreement" document, as was
suggested in Council Meeting, January 21, 1980. A simple statement
four rights, to complement the City's stating or their rishts, |
s all the explanation most of us need, for present and future reference,
Let these matters be dealt with openly, in Chamber and clauses,
for the protection and enlightenment of all.