Gordon Prentice at Large - Politics in Newmarket
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
The Town of Newmarket has now released the terms of its settlement with the developer Bob Forrest. The details are here.
I'll post a commentary once I've figured out what's happening.
- Details
- Written by: Gordon Prentice
Last night I wander along to Chris Emanuel’s campaign launch in the Veterans Hall at Millard. 
He is running for Regional Councillor, hoping to step into John Taylor’s shoes if – as widely assumed - Taylor effortlessly ascends to the Mayoralty.
There are balloons and razzamatazz. And a pay bar.
It’s lively and there are lots of people.
No sign of John Taylor but I see Tom Taylor so the dynasty is represented.
And I see the smiling Ward 4 councillor, Tom Hempen, and Dave Kerwin from Ward 2.
After a hagiographic introduction from his former school teacher, Chris sets out his stall which he says is full of big, bold and positive ideas.
He has dipped his toe into the private sector and now returns to public service refreshed and reinvigorated and brimming with new ideas.
That’s the gist of it.
He said he wanted momentum to launch his campaign and, on the evidence of last night, I think he has the edge on his rival, the veteran councillor Tom Vegh.
After 15 years on the Council in one form or another, Tom Vegh has abandoned his Ward 1 berth. It's time do or die.
This is shaping up to be quite the contest.
But here’s my advice to Tom. In politics, never do good by stealth.
If you want to be taken seriously then get your website up and running in the next 24 hours.
It’s been way, way too long undergoing maintenance.
If you’ve got something to say we want to hear it.
Loud and clear.
- Details
- Written by: Gordon Prentice
The Town of Newmarket has now agreed Terms of Settlement with the Clock Tower developer, Bob Forrest, which means the OMB Hearing scheduled for August 2018 will no longer go ahead.
It is likely that the application coming before the Superior Court later this month on who owns the contested land in Market Square will also be pulled. 
Earlier today (3 May 2018) Forrest’s lawyer Ira Kagan told the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (the successor body to the OMB) that Forrest and the Town of Newmarket had agreed the terms of a settlement which resolved the appeals currently before the OMB. Kagan says the Town and Forrest want the OMB Appeal due to start on Tuesday 7 August 2018 to be adjourned indefinitely.
“I can further advise that subject to the Town fulfilling certain obligations as per the Minutes of Settlement, that my client will ultimately (but not presently) be withdrawing its appeals. I would be grateful if you would advise the Parties (Forrest’s Main Street Clock Inc, the Town of Newmarket and the Heart of Newmarket Citizens’ Group) of the Tribunal’s decision on this adjournment request.”
Settlement terms still a mystery
The Town has settled with Bob Forrest but we do not yet know on what terms. What are the obligations the Town must fulfill? We shall find out tomorrow afternoon according to Bob Kwapeese.
Should we be celebrating?
If Forrest's Clock Tower project is now stone cold dead, never to be resurrected, we should all give thanks.
But the question in my mind is this: what is Forrest getting from the Town in return for pulling out of the OMB Hearing? And what is he getting for dropping his opposition to the Town's application to the Superior Court on the land ownership issue (if that is, indeed, what is happening.)
Personally, I thought the Town was in a pretty strong position even if it lost in the Superior Court on the Market Square land ownership issue. (The Town’s deal, some 15 years ago, with Michael Bryant - who sold his Main Street properties to Forrest - was never formally closed by the Town. It was and remains a stellar example of Newmarket Council’s ineptitude.)
Kagan was poised to argue at the Superior Court that if the Town hadn’t gotten round to closing the deal after so many years it was no longer operational. Anyway… all this stuff is for the lawyers.
What's the deal?
I suspect the Town has thrown Forrest some kind of lifeline, allowing him to walk away with something.
But this is speculation on my part. Unlike the leaky Councillor Kwapeese I am not privy to the details.
It is enough to say that today we learn the OMB Hearing is off.
Tomorrow we shall find out what the real deal is.
Tonight I emailed the Town to ask when and where the "big announcement" will happen. I wanna be there.