This was the area used by Anita Jackson for several years.
It felt like mass confusion at times during press question period at Cramahe Council on July 14.
In question were the actions taken by Cramahe staff as they dealt with the former farmers' market and a proposed farmers' market for downtown Colborne.
The problem goes back to last summer when complaints were made by local businesses about parking spaces being taken up by the sole market vendor, Anita Jackson.
Mrs. Jackson and Cramahe's Bylaw Enforcement Officer, Jim Harris, disagree about what was said a year ago.
Mrs. Jackson says she was asked by Mr. Harris what gave her the right to set up there and was told she would have to move. She couldn't fit all her produce in her Jimmy so she stayed all day.
Mr. Harris stated on July 14, 2009 that she was never asked to leave. She was asked to move to another location.
In a July 13, 2009 phone interview Mrs. Jackson says she questioned the request and asked Mr. Harris, to look for the farmers' market bylaw. He couldn't find it but allowed her to stay for the next four weeks to sell her raspberries. She hasn't been back since, and this year grew fewer flowers.
The 20-year market veteran knew there was a bylaw. She was selling her produce on King St. E. with Marjorie Bailey and others when it was passed in 1993. She remembers the first day of the market. It was closer to Division St then. There were flags up to mark the spaces - and it rained.
A request to the townhsip by Cramahe Now has produced the document and it validates Mrs. Jackson's contention that there was a legitimate market. The bylaw has never been rescinded.
The 1993 farmers' market bylaw required that each vendor pay $20 a season. At the beginning of one season a few years ago Mrs. Jackson went to the township office to pay her $20 and was told not to bother.
Mrs. Jackson's husband, Terry, doesn't fault the bylaw enforcement officer but wonders why action was taken on these complaints 15 years after the bylaw was enacted. He says there is something wrong.
In defence of his actions, Mr. Harris stated at the July 14 meeting of council that a bylaw written for Colborne in 1993 "doesn't mean anything".
That drew the ire of Councillor Pat Westrope, who sat on council at that time. "It's still enforced if it hasn't been rescinded," she asserted.
Mr. Harris replied that it was his belief that bylaws had to be re-written within five years of amalgamation to be valid.
To which Councillor Westrope replied, "Then we're going to be busy."
Mr. Harris later claimed the 1993 bylaw was superseded by a post-amalgamation bylaw covering parking. He is responsible for the updating of township bylaws.
Cramahe Now made a request to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs on July 15 to determine if the 1993 Colborne bylaw is still in force. No reply has been received yet.
A farmers’ market may return to Colborne.
In any event, Ms Goddard-Sarria was asking on July 14 for council direction on a location for a new market and offered two choices - Victoria Square and the parking lot beside the CIBC.
Ms. Goddard-Sarria claimed in her written report that two locations were discussed by her and potential vendors who approached her. The Community Development Officer was on holidays this week and was unavailable to identify who approached her. Cramahe Now has learned that Bianka Van Egmond and her partner Andrew Keogh spoke to her at different times.
Ms. Goddard-Sarria's perspective wasn’t supported by Mrs. Jackson who says that she was approached by Ms. Goddard-Sarria to see if she was interested in being a part of a new farmers' market. The township official told Mrs. Jackson she would be recommending either the CIBC parking lot or Victoria Square. The farm producer told the Cramahe staffer that the afternoon hours suggested by Ms. Goddard-Sarria were not ideal.
None of the discussion with Mrs. Jackson was in the report which council discussed before it chose the CIBC parking lot location.
Can you find the market?
Cars block visibility and the parking lot
where the market is proposed is full of cars.
After some discussion about possible damage to the park, it was decided to propose a Wednesday farmers' market on Wednesdays from 2-6 p.m.. There will be no cost for vendors.
Bianka Van Egmond of Brick House Farm Market was out at the market on its first day.
On July 15 Ms. Van Egmond showed up to sell her organic and home-grown vegetables. She was told to put her stand behind the Mac's Milk store this week. She ignored the suggestion which would have put her completely out of sight of any traffic, and set up on the shoulder in front of the convenience store on the south side of King St.
Thanks for the article. I just wanted to thank council staff, Jim Harris and Dan O'Brian they were very helpful setting up the stand. Just to clarify, it was never suggested to set up behind Mac's, rather beside Mac's, next to the bank. However, the parking lot was full, so I chose to set up near the side walk.
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