SORE has learned that the Town has recently laid four charges against two of Benny Marotta’s companies under the Ontario Heritage Act. These are quasi-criminal charges under our legal system and can result in substantial fines for corporations and jail time for individuals upon conviction.
The charges relate to the grotesque and outrageous clear-cutting of a large portion of the Rand Estate shortly after last fall’s municipal election.
Our understanding is that protected Dunington-Grubb designed landscape is alleged to have been illegally destroyed during this clear cutting in November of 2018.
SORE, for reasons we can’t explain, was unable to get a copy of the charges from the Town. A trip to the Welland court office was therefore necessary to find out who has been charged and with what. See a PDF of the charges below.
We look forward to the Town posting timely information on these charges on its website going forward, including upcoming court appearances and trial dates. There is enormous interest in this matter among SORE’s supporters and Town residents in general.
We understand that the Town is able to restore any illegally-destroyed landscape at Mr. Marotta’s companies’ expense under the Heritage Act upon conviction for these charges. SORE will be closely monitoring the progress of the charges and expects that they will be vigorously prosecuted by the Town. We look forward to restoration of the protected landscape on Randwood.
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