Read the vibrancy fund agreement
The Sachem & Glanbrook Gazette | December 11, 2012 | www.sachem.ca
(In response to ‘Residents expect more police in Fisherville area,’ December 6)
Mayor Hewitt was quoted on how Haldimand County intends to spend/invest the money received from wind companies: “…to address where the funds should go with input from the public…we’ll amortize and bring some money forward so we can invest in the community right away.”
For residents to provide input, it is helpful to refer to and read details in the Community Vibrancy Fund Agreement (CVFA) between Haldimand County elected officials and proponent wind companies. It can be found online at http://www.haldimandcounty.on.ca/OurCounty.aspx?id=15523
We have reviewed this document and would like to bring forward two important points.
First, all proposed expenditures or applications of money from the Community Vibrancy Fund (CVF) require consultation with the wind company before being presented to council for approval [Part V- point 16]. This effectively gives the wind company control of CVFA projects and spending.
Second, the CVFA requires that Haldimand County and its residents give full and unconditional support to the wind company project with this statement: “…shall work cooperatively… to develop and review plans for ensuring that the (wind company) is appropriately recognized by the County and its residents for the significant contribution, including payment of the CVF contribution… toward the betterment of the community.” [Part IV- point 9].
Again [Part IV- point 14], the CVF contributions are “made in consideration of the County’s agreement to appropriately recognize the value to the community of the wind project and the (wind company’s) investment within Haldimand County.”
Regardless of this agreement, which commits support to the wind projects in Haldimand, we do not and will never support the invasion of Industrial Wind Turbines (IWT) into rural Ontario through the Green Energy Act. We encourage all Haldimand residents to put themselves in the position of affected rural residents when considering whether or not to support IWT projects.
Blair and Elaine Otterman,
Selkirk
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/12/15/read-the-vibrancy-fund-agreement/