Thorold has been gifted over 400 trees and shrubs through the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA).
There’s only one catch: they have to be planted on September 27.
With not much time to decide whether or not to accept the donation or where to do the planting, city council spent almost an hour debating the gift during Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
The proposal was brought forward by Councillor Tim O’Hare, who had been in conversations about the trees with the NPCA, as well as City Hall staff.
“We came into this donation because someone who had ordered these trees and shrubs declined on the order,” he told his fellow councillors. “There are also volunteers from Niagara College who are slated to do the planting and help the planting succeed.”
Because the Niagara College students already committed to September 27 as the date of planting, the gift is time sensitive.
But some councillors feel blindsided by the sudden donation.
“Who decided we would accept the trees?” asked Councillor Jim Handley, as he went on a long-winded rant, accusing “individuals” of going “over their means as far as the municipal act in accepting a gift from someone.”
“Code of conduct guidelines have been broken as far I’m concerned,” he concluded.
Councillor O’Hare explained that he brought the proposal to city council so it could be decided whether or not to accept the gift.
He wasn’t the only councillor in on the project, as Councillor Anthony Longo had also been a part of the discussions with City Hall staff.
Both councillors sit on the city’s Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity Committee.
“This seems to have come through the committee from another organization,” clarified Councillor Ken Sentance. “It’s time sensitive, discussed with staff, coming to us for approval or not. We all talk about trees, we all talk about climate change and helping. I think we need this.”
As ThoroldToday reported, Thorold has only 12.3% tree canopy cover left, while the acceptable minimum set by Environment Canada is 30%.
Because city council had not been made aware of the possible donation prior to the council meeting, there were lots of questions about the logistics of the project.
The most prescient question is where the trees should go. City Hall staff has identified Lakeview Cemetery as the best site for the planting, but not every councillor is on board with that idea.
“You better get a tree specialist to tell you how far those roots are going to grow because you don’t want to be disturbing the deceased,” said Councillor Carmen DeRose. “That’s my main concern about the cemetery. I just feel that there are so many other parks that need trees.”
Councillor Longo explained that the trees would be planted far enough away from the gravesites, to enhance the overall appeal of the property.
“There’s been some concern that this is going to turn into a walking area,” he said. “I think the cemetery needs to remain a very dignified place. The idea is to plant trees around the perimeter to beautify the space and take advantage of an opportunity.”
Then there’s another big question mark: the amount of trees that are being donated.
In his answers to city council, the city’s Director of Community Services, Geoff Holman, spoke of 850 trees and 150 shrubs, while Councillor O’Hare made mention of over 400 trees and shrubs with a total value of $5,000.
“450 was the original order that the original client had placed,” said Councillor O’Hare, when asked to clarify. “That is what NPCA is donating to City of Thorold, if we chose to accept them. But the NPCA said they would donate up to $5000 worth and the 450 trees and shrubs may not cover the full $5000 so there may be more available.”
If there are trees that don’t get planted on September 27, a place to store them would also need to be secured.
When asked if the project will unfairly burden City Hall staff, Holman seemed adamant that that wouldn't be the case.
“The representative of the NCPA said these are experienced tree planters from Niagara College,” echoed Councillor O’Hare. “These forty students can put in 400 trees in a day. I’ll just go with her word on that.”
In the end, city council decided to accept the gift but Councillor Henry D’Angela proposed that City Hall staff come back with an official report on the how and the where of the project, to clarify some of the lingering questions.
That report is set to hit the council chamber floor next Tuesday, September 19, during a special council meeting where the possible expansion of the gas plant in Thorold South will also be on the table.
