-~5- 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.