Boys and Girls Club denial has Montague 'in a rage'
CBC News | Posted: August 25, 2015 11:35 AM | Last Updated: August 25, 2015
Planning board to reconsider application for Boys and Girls Club
Montague Mayor Richard Collins has sent a decision to reject a location for the Boys and Girls Club in the town back to the planning board, hoping for a solution.
Council met Monday night for the first time since the youth club was denied permission earlier this month to set up in a house it had bought. The decision was made after complaints from neighbours, including one neighbour who is a member of the planning board.
"I'm … asking the planning the planning board to deal with the conflict of interest that the community is in a rage about," said Collins.
"I'm hoping the new planning board will deal with this in a business-like and practical way and come up with a solution that can come back to council and can be voted on to the satisfaction of the community."
The planning board member who opposed the club's location did not vote on the resolution to deny the club, but was present during discussions. The club's application was ultimately voted down by the full council.
'Procedures were not followed'
Several people were at Monday's meeting to ask council to reverse its decision, including former councillor Janice MacBeth.
"It was very clear that the procedures were not followed from the planning board," said MacBeth, "thus resulting in a resolution that came forward that was passed by council that never should have been brought in the first place."
MacBeth and others wanted the entire resolution scrapped.
The planning board that will review the decision is now made up of some new members, including the newest councillor, Daphne Griffin, who is in favour of the club.
Proposal leaked
Council has met with the Boys and Girls Club and proposed two compromise solutions. The meeting was behind closed doors, but one of the proposals has since been leaked.
Collins confirmed a plan for council to move the house. He would not give further details.
Selling his house
One man who lives next to the current property, Bruce Coyle, is so upset by the prospect of the Boys and Girls Club as a neighbour that he has put his house up for sale.
"I don't have a problem with Boys and Girls clubs," said Coyle.
"You can do whatever you want, but it's where it's being located is the problem."
He said he'll move no matter what the final outcome.
The next council meeting to decide the fate of the Boys and Girls Club will be held on Sept. 14.