Puslinch councillor Susan Fielding has once more been reappointed as the township representative for Halton-Hamilton source water protection.
On Nov. 19, Mayor Dennis Lever noted the current term was ending and the group was looking for the township to reappoint someone to the committee.
Fielding has served on the committee since its inception in 2007.
At that time it was a five-year appointment, “but it’s gone on,” Fielding said.
She said reports for the final public consultation should be heading out shortly and the group’s next meeting is in February.
Fielding added there are no more meetings anticipated until the reports are passed by the Ministry of Environment.
At that time, there should be an idea of how the MOE wants the committee restructured, she said.
“In essence, it would only be one more meeting so I don’t mind staying on.”
She said there was little point to (and it would be unfair) bringing in someone new for a single meeting and expect them be up to speed on the information. Fielding stressed it was not known what the MOE was looking for “and there is no guarantee Puslinch will even have any representation.”
However, it will require reappointments at that time.
Councillor Ken Roth noted the document before council was to reappoint someone for a three-year term.
“It can’t be a three-year term (except for unforeseen circumstances),” Fielding said.
She anticipated a complete committee restructuring by the end of next year.
Lever noted that if the commitment ends up being much longer than the anticipated one meeting, council could appoint a replacement.
About the committee
The source protection committee is responsible for developing three pieces of documentation that will complete the source protection planning process:
1. Terms of Reference
2. Assessment Report
3. Source Protection Plan
The Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee was formed in 2007 and is comprised of 15 members, plus the chair and members are from a variety of groups, the committee consists of one-third municipalities (self-selected), one-third “sectoral” and one-third general public.
The Clean Water Act, 2006, ensures that communities are able to protect their drinking water sources through the development of collaborative, locally driven, science-based source protection plans for watersheds across the province.
The program is managed by conservation authorities and the local source protection committees guide the development of the source protection plan.
