Cobourg Ice Storm images December 2013

Ribfest debris is a threat to children's feet

Terry McDermott of the Cobourg Rotary Club asserted, "We go through this (park) with a fine tooth comb. We try and leave this place cleaner than what we found it."

I went down to Victoria Park yesterday (Aug 21) after reading the assertion of Mr McDermott, and in one small area in the location of the pig rigs, I found the debris in the photograph below. It includes shards of plastic that can easily cut feet. Numerous other plastic items that can also cut feet.

Let us not forget that children from assorted day cares are brought to Victoria Park to romp and frolic. I have seen them in bare feet in the location where the pig rigs park. 

Obviously the mediocre cliche of "fine tooth comb" ain't so fine after all.A nd then there is that meaningless throw-away phrase that the Victoria Park is "cleaner than what we found it."  

Councillor Miriam Mutton's July 16 letter to Cobourg Town Council

Mayor Gil Brocanier and Members of Town Council

The Corporation of the Town of Cobourg

55 King Street West

Cobourg, Ontario K9A 2M2                                                                     July 16, 2013

Mr. Mayor and Members of Council,

I was in attendance at the Council meeting July 15 and heard the discussion of the item involving my letter dated July 12, 2013. The item was added to the agenda at the start of the meeting and since the matter involved me personally, I declared an interest in the matter at the start of the meeting and refrained from participating in the discussion and vote on the item.

The motion passed by Council was “That the letter be received for information purposes.” This motion does not reflect action on the request for information contained within my letter of July 12, 2013, and it is unclear whether it is the Town’s intention to respond to this citizen’s requests for information in a timely manner.

In addition, after today’s Council meeting you indicated to me that the Town has sought legal advice on this matter.

I request a copy of the Town’s legal opinion since it appears that you, and Council, and your legal advisors are acting contrary to the law set out in the Counter ruling by the courts. That is a very serious matter. If you (or your legal counsel) have justification for your apparently illegal course of conduct please provide it now in writing.

Also, I will provide the Clerk with a copy of the letter to the Mayor and Council I showed you after the Council meeting from an area citizen.

Also, butterfly eggs were found to be on the milkweed, a plant vital to the Monarch butterfly, growing on the boulevard. The Town shaved down the garden this morning and most likely has killed even more plants by the extreme and indiscriminate action. And some plants, such as the oregano, were less than eight inches.

Sincerely,

Miriam Mutton

423 George Street Cobourg, Ontario K9A 3M7        905.373.0159

Copy: Lorraine Brace

            Glenn McGlashon

Northumberland Today

Northumberland News

Small Town Radio

Pine Ridge Broadcasting

Councillor Miriam Mutton's July 12 letter to Cobourg Town Council

Mayor Gil Brocanier and Members of Council

The Corporation of the Town of Cobourg

55 King Street West

Cobourg, Ontario K9A 2M2                                                                          July 12, 2013

Mr. Mayor and Members of Council,

            RE:      Boulevard Garden at 423 George Street

Notices of Violation dated May 29, 2013 and July 10, 2013

                        By-law 028-2013

I am writing to express my objection to the application and enforcement of the Town’s Boulevard By-law against my natural garden on the boulevard in front of my property and specifically to the Town’s actions on reported complaints filed against my garden under By-law 028-13, a By-law to Provide Maintenance and Protection of Boulevards within the Town of Cobourg.

I have received two notices of violation which threaten that my garden will be cut down. Both identify the infraction of the by-law as being that the vegetation on the boulevard exceeds a height of 8”. No safety issues were identified in either notice from the Town of Cobourg which were both signed by the same By-law Enforcement Officer.

The boulevard garden in front of my home is an expression of my views about supporting and enjoying nature in an urban setting. My natural garden brings much joy to me and many passers-by and has done so for many years. A number of strangers and area neighbours have expressed to me their enjoyment of the garden over this time. I purchased my home from my grandmother in 1989 and continue to undertake incremental improvements to this designated heritage building and family heirloom. I was born into a family of gardeners, farming families actually, with a tradition of close connections with the land, and the environment. I am also a professional landscape architect. A primary service of my practice of more than 25 years is garden design and each garden is unique.  

This particular boulevard garden located in front of my home is in keeping with the gardening style and planting themes on my property. This boulevard garden began to take shape soon after George Street was reconstructed about 2000. I had also maintained a similar type of garden on the boulevard in the years preceding street reconstruction. And, to my knowledge, I have lived amicably with my George Street neighbours throughout this time.

It is my understanding that courts have ruled that growing and tending a natural boulevard garden is a legal right protected by the freedom of expression we enjoy in Canada under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I think the Cobourg Boulevard By-law, by limiting boulevard growth to eight inches in height, violates that right and contradicts previous those Court decisions.

                                                                                                                                    ….2

In the legal case of Counter v City of Toronto, in a similar situation, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that Canadians have the right to grow a boulevard garden because “gardening is a form of expression in and of itself”. Justice Pitt of the Court stated that a municipality can only restrict the height of the boulevard garden “to the extent that the City determines driver and pedestrian safety are at risk”. The Ontario Court of Appeal agreed with the Superior Court in that case.

Tending to the boulevard garden is a way for me to express my fundamental environmental beliefs, and I have always made sure that the garden does not compromise public safety.

The boulevard natural garden in front of my home also provides opportunity for learning, the sharing of environmentally sustainable ideas - including resilient planting for water conservation which the Town promotes - and for the simple and pure enjoyment of nature in an urban context. As the steward of the lands adjacent my property I choose how I maintain the land. My garden maintenance practices respect the environment, the needs of people using the public right of way and practical municipal requirements including snow storage from winter sidewalk and street maintenance. My boulevard garden also acts to help calm traffic on a neighbourhood street regularly used by drivers of vehicles as a short cut to avoid several signalized intersections.

I do not see how a restriction of only eight inches is necessary for public safety, and ask you to provide to me any studies or explanation that the Town has to justify eight inches as a safety measure. I doubt very much such justification exists. I am aware that many municipalities in Canada allow and encourage natural gardens with a plant height of one metre on boulevards.

I would ask that the Town cancel these Notices of Violation and inform me that they have been cancelled. I believe that enforcement action against my natural garden by Town staff would be breaking the law and violating my rights. I am prepared to defend my rights and protect my garden. I would ask that instead of taking this legal enforcement action, you work towards ensuring that we have regulations and related procedures that are just for the benefit of all citizens of the Town of Cobourg by amending the by-law to bring it in alignment with court rulings.

Sincerely,

Miriam Mutton

423 George Street  Cobourg, Ontario K9A 3M7       905.373.0159

Attachment under separate cover: Counter v. City of Toronto Decision

Copy: Lorraine Brace, Town Clerk

            Glenn McGlashon, Acting CAO

Northumberland Today

Northumberland News

Small Town Radio

Pine Ridge Broadcasting

Cobourg's Beautification Squad Hits Ms Mutton's boulevard garden

It happened early this morning (circa 9am) while Ms Mutton was walking her dog. 

Now the boulevard outside her home looks as ordinary, plain, and boring as the rest of the street. The milkweed plants that have been destroyed were bearing Monarch eggs under the leaves.

These two jagged wooden stems were left as is. This is a safety hazard for someone to trip over, or trip onto, with a painful and/or injurious result.

Cobourg Gardens threaten to be destroyed by Boulevard By-law

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE BUILDING IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN COBOURG

Below are photographs taken of the PARK Theatre property July 13, 2013. 

Note the back of the building full of noxious weeds. The surrounding neighbours keep up their properties in a tidy manner, but the management of the PARK Theatre couldn't care less about devaluing the neighbourhood with such a fuck-all-of-you attitude.

This is the west side exit from the theatre. Note the scrap cans and litter. Note how plants are permitted to overgrow the steps to this fire exit. This is unsafe and indicates the attitude of the owner of the property.

Above and below is the east side fire escape. Note how it is overgrown with numerous plants that impede an escape. A fire escape path needs to be clear.

This is west side of the grafitti laden wall, including noxious weeds left to proliferate. The owner seems to be too lazy to even tidy up their property.

Above trays of plants have been abandoned by the side of gthe building, all of them dying due to lack of water. Note the damage to the 'platform' outside the building. Shabby and unsafe.

The trim needs just a coat of paint. The owner seems to be too cheap to spruce it up.

Below is the most prominent display of an attitude of shabbiness by the owner who has no pride in their building.