Dave Kane says Stephenville residents weren’t misinformed

STEPHENVILLE CROSSING, N.L. — Frank Gale
The Western Star

STEPHENVILLE CROSSING, N.L. – Stephenville Crossing resident Dave Kane disputes the suggestion by Mayor Lisa Lucas that residents are being misinformed about changes to the new town plan.
Kane, responding to comments made by the mayor in a Western Star story on July 31, said residents are not misinformed.
“I’m not against the new town plan, but I am against any agreement that is going to be signed behind closed doors,” he said.
He said in 1995 residents didn’t know the town was signing a stewardship area agreement.
Kane said residents objected to the town council of 2005 trying to sign another agreement without the knowledge of the public. He recollects that when residents objected, the town council of the day made a promise they’d never sign another agreement without public consultation.
He says the main concern now is with Section 6.1.6 of the new town plan, dealing with the Municipal Stewardship area. Kane says that section includes severe restrictions on the use of off-highway motorized vehicles and the elimination or minimizing the effect of human activity of wetlands and bogs in the Municipal Stewardship area.
He said his fear is council wants to prevent people from hunting, fishing and cutting firewood in certain sections of that stewardship area, even though Mayor Lucas assures there is no such plan.
Kane said he has made a submission to the town and plans to attend the next public hearing on the matter before the town plan is sent off to the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment for approval.

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