LAURIE WEIR
Perth’s council has moved forward with a request from the Darou Farm Working Group to expand its membership from five to seven members. This decision was made during a committee meeting on Sept. 10, where the group’s request was discussed.
The proposed increase would include two council members and five members from the public.
Coun. Isabel Anne McRae explained that the group was initially smaller than planned, and the expansion was necessary due to poor attendance at earlier meetings. She noted that one member has not attended any of the three meetings held so far.
“I think it’s really important to reach out and find people with a background in the development of parks. We (need) that expertise,” McRae said, emphasizing the need for community engagement.
Coun. Gary Waterfield supported the motion, highlighting the importance of securing qualified and committed individuals for the working group, which he said applies not only to this committee but to others within council.
Coun. David Bird expressed a desire to move forward quickly, noting, “The sooner we can get on with this and find people, it gives us the same number of members as the Last Duel Park committee, which functioned well despite absences.”
However, Deputy Mayor Ed McPherson expressed some reservations. While he fully supports the working group, he questioned whether they should put the expansion of the committee on hold for a few months, citing the upcoming budget process. McPherson also recalled that the last call for committee members received little public response. He suggested that pausing the expansion could help manage the workload of staff amid other ongoing town projects.
McRae acknowledged that the process might take longer than anticipated. “Six months is just starting to lay the framework. I think it’s important that we move forward with this. Some grants come with stringent timelines and often require us to be ready with a shovel in the ground,” she said, referencing recent discussions at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).
She added that it’s advantageous to be proactive and ready for potential provincial funding opportunities, as they have no idea what the provincial government is going to throw at them next in terms of grants or allocations. “I’d like us to be in a position to act quickly if needed.”
Regardless of the committee’s size, the group will continue its work, McRae confirmed.
Bird acknowledged McPherson’s concerns, noting the need to balance public expectations with the committee’s practical limitations. “The result is a series of recommendations, not commitments,” Bird said. “Even if council votes to accept the recommendations, it’s more than a wish list and not just an exercise in futility.”
Ultimately, the council voted in favour of increasing the working group’s membership to seven. The recommendation will be brought back for final approval at a future council meeting.
According to the town’s website, Darou Farm is on the cusp of transformation. A segment of the farm is already approved for development into an off-leash dog park, but the vision for the remainder of the land as outdoor recreation space is yet to be drawn. This working group will brainstorm and make recommendations to council regarding how the town can best use the remaining space for outdoor recreation opportunities. Members need to be able to commit to meeting once per month during the day until the working group completes its mandate.
