For the second time in a decade, the St. Thomas Cemetery Company has begun the process of abandoning St. Thomas Cemetery (West Avenue) and South Park Cemetery, south of the city.
In 2015, the board of directors had served notice that it would seek to abandon the two burying grounds if the long-standing city grant wasn’t reinstated.
And in October of that year, city council voted to extend the cemetery board of directors a financial lifeline of sorts by way of a $20,000 operating grant. Combined with the first instalment in April of $30,000, it left them $9,000 short of the amount requested during 2015’s budget deliberations.

Through the first decade of the new century, the cemetery company had annually received anywhere from $59,000 to $65,000 in operating grants.
The grant in 2015 supported the non-profit organization’s close to $200,000 annual budget. The municipality began funding the company in the mid-1980s to avoid a takeover.

At the time, cemetery manager Lesley Buchanan (pictured above) said, “I’m looking at it totally different than they (council) are. Maybe it’s because I’m involved.
“I hope that going forward it won’t be the battering of heads, it will be working together to try and find a common solution. Because ultimately, it’s the taxpayers of the City of St. Thomas who are going to suffer. If we can’t all work together, that’s what’s going to happen.”

City manager Wendel Graves, admitted, “It is apparent that the status quo would not be sustainable even at a funding level of $50,000 from the city.”
Well, 10 years later, and it’s deja vu all over again.
On Dec. 17 of last year, the board voted to abandon the two cemeteries, effective March 31 of this year.
It commissioned Feguson DiMeo Law of St. Thomas to petition the Superior Court of Justice to have a judge declare the cemeteries abandoned.
We’ll touch on what that would mean in a moment.

West Avenue Cemetery

We spoke with board chair Tom Marks, who confirmed that year after year, the board seeks to increase the city’s financial participation beyond the $60,000 level.
The current budget is in the neighbourhood of $200,000, including about $116,000 for a pair of full-time employees and one part-timer.
A request to increase city funding to $90,000 this year, plus $100,000 in capital funding, was nowhere to be seen in the draft budget presented to city council last month.
“It’s not the lack of good management,” stressed Marks.
The current manager is former St. Thomas Mayor Heather Jackson.
“Superman would never make it work. So the realization was that there are too many things, like the big trees (to contend with).
“Cut a tree down, you’re in for $10,000. The mausoleum is in bad shape. So, we just decided, hey, we can’t continue this. Let’s face reality.”
The board had approached former St. Thomas CAO Michael Bradley and Jeff Bray, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities, and there appeared to be some progress.
However, neither is currently employed with the city.
“So then we get put on the back burner, along comes the battery plant, and we just can’t seem to get their attention.”

“The message from me is simple. We want to cooperate. We want to do the proper thing. But, you know, we just need some help. We need some attention.”

For some time now, no member of city council has sat on the board. The last councillor on the board was Gary Clarke.
Marks continued, “We took the approach that let us recognize it’s a difficult problem. We’ll help where we can. Let’s make the best of a difficult situation. But, you know, our equipment is worn out. It literally is held together with tape.”
And so, the decision to abandon is an attempt to get the city’s attention.
“Maybe the city will say, hey, let’s sit down and make the best of a difficult situation, which is what we’ve been saying for a year and a half. And I think that’s what’s going to happen, I hope. We want to do the honourable thing.

“However, the cemetery business has changed dramatically since cremations. So there’s very little income. The business plan is just not working.
“It’s like handing you a hundred bucks, and you got a thousand dollars to pay. You can’t, you can’t make it work.”
In spite of requests over the years, Central Elgin does not contribute financially to the operation of South Park Cemetery, which is located in the municipality.
It does have a representative on the board of directors in Central Elgin Deputy Mayor Todd Noble.
Last week, we spoke with outgoing Central Elgin CAO Carey Herd, who confirmed that should a judge permit abandonment of both cemeteries, South Park would, ironically, become the responsibility of that municipality.
Including the assets, rights and obligations under provincial legislation.
We have requested an interview with St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston in the coming week.
Meantime, Marks concludes, “The message from me is simple. We want to cooperate. We want to do the proper thing. But, you know, we just need some help. We need some attention.
“Let’s sit down and get a solution. Maybe it was just miscommunications, but we patiently waited. And maybe that’s what we had to do is get their attention.”

Related post:

https://ianscityscope.com/2015/10/06/long-term-financial-solution-remains-elusive/

IT’S ALL A MATTER OF RESPECT

Nothing like the embers of controversy to take one’s mind off the bitterly cold start to a winter.
Especially if one of the players in this episode is your MP.
Let’s go back to mid-December when Wade Chang, Liberal MP for Burnaby Central, rose in the House of Commons on a point of order to demand an apology from Elgin-St. Thomas-London South MP Andrew Lawton.
Chang is accusing Lawton and two other Conservative members of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights of disrespectful behaviour.
An accusation that Lawton aggressively denies.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order,” began MP Chang on Dec. 11.
“Bullying, discrimination, homophobia, racism and hate have no place in the House or in any corner of Canada.”
Chang continued, “During the justice committee meeting on Tuesday evening, I experienced mocking comments directed at the way I speak English and other remarks that undermined and attacked my intelligence.”
Chang is a Taiwanese-born lawyer sitting in his first term as MP.
He continued, “In addition, a non-permanent member moved my nameplate without my permission.”
More on the significance of that action in a moment.
“I ask you to remind all members, permanent or substitutes, that committee proceedings must be conducted with courtesy and professionalism, and that all materials, such as nameplates, should not be moved without the member’s consent.
“Upholding this standard ensures that all members of the House can contribute fully and effectively, and that the committees reflect the dignity of this House.
“Finally, I respectfully request an apology from the Member of Parliament from Elgin-St. Thomas-London South, the Member of Parliament from Sherwood Park-Fort Saskatchewan, and the Member of Parliament from Peace River-Westlock, so that our committee can continue to function fairly and with dignity.”
Lawton has denied any wrongdoing and added that Chang did not raise the issue at committee.
To be fair, the point of order came after the committee had adjourned for the holiday break.
We requested a comment from Lawton, and he provided the following.
“I don’t know what the accusation against me is. I have never engaged in any of the behaviour Mr. Chang alluded to in his remarks, and the footage of the meeting reflects that.
“Despite the speaker’s urging, Mr. Chang never raised any issues in the committee setting, where they could have been addressed properly.
“I don’t see how there is a story here with no specific comment or action attributed to me.”
It was David Goodwin of St. Thomas who directed the spotlight on this accusation from MP Chang.
Goodwin was the Liberal candidate who ran in last year’s federal election against Lawton, and we contacted him for further insight as to when and how the incident unfolded.

“That to me is just a damning indictment of the fact that it happened. You wouldn’t do that if you were making it up. You would be violating the rules of Parliament and be reprimanded.”

“I don’t think that’s when they were sitting down with cameras on in the justice committee. Because you’re doing it in the full circle with all members. I think this was done because the nameplate was moved as well.”
And what is the significance of moving the nameplate?
“I know that doesn’t seem like a big issue. But there are really strong rules in committee. And there are staff in that room to place your name plate.
“And it’s not to be touched, but it’s more about protocol. So that’s why I don’t think this happened on camera. So I suspect what happened is it occurred off camera and not while sitting down at committee.
“Because it would be hard to understand how somebody would behave like that in a circle of 20 people.”
Goodwin continued, “This is why I think it’s important for us to raise. It’s one thing for someone to say, listen, he’s made fun of the way I speak, but when you rise in the House of Commons and put forward a point of order detailing this exactly in detail . . . that’s a serious incident. ”
The Speaker of the House, the Honourable Francis Scarpaleggia, suggested Chang address the matter when the committee meets again later this month.
Goodwin noted, “And so when the justice committee and Mr. Maloney (Liberal MP James Maloney) as chair comes back in early January, the chair will then have to respond to this point of order.”
As to Lawton’s denial, Goodwin conceded it is a possibility, “Because it’s a he-said-he-said comment, but except for the fact that he (Chang) stood on those comments and made a point of order after the occurrence.
“That to me is just a damning indictment of the fact that it happened. You wouldn’t do that if you were making it up. You would be violating the rules of Parliament and would be reprimanded.
“You can’t stand up and make a false accusation. And so that’s why this action is what led me to post on Facebook and to bring attention to this.”

SIGNALLING SAFETY

Be honest now.
Have you held your breath in anticipation as you approach the intersection of Ron McNeil Line and Dalewood Drive, just north of St. Thomas?
Here’s hoping that is now a thing of the past.
After dozens of collisions and near misses, the intersection is now protected by traffic signals.
Elgin County Council initiated the intersection improvement process earlier this year, retaining Arcadis Professional Services (Canada) to provide detailed design, contract administration, and inspection services for the project.
KWS Electrical Services of London was the lowest bidder on the traffic signal contract at just over $1.3 million.
In October, the speed limit on Ron McNeil Line approaching the intersection was reduced to 70 km/h from 80 km/h.
The initial priority was to signalize the intersection before the end of the year and then create turning lanes in the spring of 2026.
And now, the traffic lights were activated just before Christmas.
Reason to now breathe easier?

THE ECHO CHAMBER

On the matter of consolidating the province’s conservation authorities, T. Campbell suggested the following.

“Some consolidation makes sense. This is overkill. Joe wimps out.”

Mary Muscat provided this insight.

“I, too, disagree with amalgamating the conservation authorities. Many credible voices were raised against banning speed cameras, sadly to no effect. I am hoping Queen’s Park listens this time to the voices of the people and that people stop being concerned about being offensive.”

And the final word goes to Kevin Smith.

“This is exactly what is wrong with every single level of government. These politicians are too worried about offending someone; they end up accepting bad policies.”

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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.