Tuesday night’s virtual meeting of Bradford West Gwillimbury Council had a short agenda, wrapping up in just an hour and a half – but one unscheduled item set in motion a report that could have a lasting impact on the health and well-being of residents.
Newly-elected councillor Jonathan Scott asked for a Staff Report on the feasibility of providing winter maintenance for some of the paved pathways and trails in BWG’s parks.
“I think it’s a good thing if we could,” said Scott, suggesting that clearing and maintaining the paths would not only improve safety in winter but encourage residents to get out and exercise in the open air during the pandemic.
His request was supported by Coun. Peter Ferragine, who noted that a similar idea had come up in a recent meeting of the Healthy Communities advisory committee, as a way to boost exercise options for seniors and families.
Coun. Mark Contois also supported the request but commented, “I wish somebody would have said something during budget deliberations.”
Contois agreed it was worth investigating if only to determine the cost of providing the additional service.
But Coun. Gary Lamb warned that there might be unexpected consequences if paths are kept clear in winter. He suggested that maintenance during the winter months could lead the Simcoe County Transportation consortium, which schedules school buses for both the Public and Catholic school boards, to re-evaluate walking distances for some students, and even cancel some buses.
Council voted to ask for the staff report, but two requests put forward by Coun. Peter Dykie were dismissed.
Dykie had asked for reports on whether Simcoe County’s plans to widen Yonge Street north of Bradford would have any impact on the provision of servicing to lands north of Line 8. He also asked for a report on the feasibility of extending Zima Parkway, at the south end of town, to link up to Canal Road via a “simple” bridge or culvert.
He was advised that no staff report was required in either case. The town would normally be in touch with the county to ensure that servicing won’t be impacted by the county’s construction plans – and the question of extending Zima Parkway is a matter best dealt with in an upcoming Transportation Master Plan study, he was told.
CAO Geoff McKnight pointed out that any extension of Zima, located within the Holland Marsh, “would trigger some scale of an Environmental Assessment.” The Transportation Master Plan, McKnight said, “is probably the best context to review that kind of improvement.”
