Special Notice - Fire Hall Clarification of Information

Special Notice - Fire Hall Clarification of Information

The existing communication from the Town of Osoyoos on the Alternative Petition process states the following:

Why is the Town not holding a referendum on this issue?
Town Council decided to use the Alternative Approval Process (AAP) to gather ratepayer assent for the project. The AAP provides Town residents with more than 30 days to study the project and come to a determination as to its value to the community. Any time within those 30 days, a Town resident can submit a response form noting an objection to the project.

Clarification
A referendum can only be held between January and March if a new borrowing bylaw receives three readings from Council and approval from the province. The Local Government Act directs that if a referendum is to be held after an AAP, the referendum must be held within 80 days of the closing of the AAP. If Council is to hold a referendum on the existing borrowing bylaw the referendum must be held prior to Dec. 22, 2014.

What happens if 474 or more signatures are validated on the Alternative Approval Process Elector Response Form?
Town of Osoyoos Council (Council) will review the results of the AAP at its October 6th meeting and decide on the next steps.

Identified alternatives include:

• Placing the borrowing bylaw approval to a referendum vote with the municipal election.
• Placing the borrowing bylaw approval to a referendum vote in a separate action prior to Dec.22.
• Taking no action and allowing the borrowing bylaw to “die” and leaving the project to a decision of the newly elected Council.

Barry Romanko, CAO
(T) 250.495.6515
(E) bromanko@osoyoos.ca