Although the Rand Estate was not on the agenda of the May 14 Council meeting, there were hopes that Council would act on some a recommendation from MHC’s May 8 meeting to designate the properties with heritage status. However, in order to even discuss the matter, it required a vote to suspend the normal rules of order. The vote to suspend rules required a two thirds majority to pass, and there was not enough support among the 7 un-conflicted councillors. Specifically, Councillors Martin Mazza, Paolo Miele and Maria Bau-Coote voted against allowing the matter to come to Council on Monday evening. This means that the MHC recommendation will go to the COTW on June 4 and Council on June 11.
SORE is very disappointed in this outcome. The 3 councillors who prevented the issue from even being discussed are “hiding” behind legal advice, which SORE understands was based on erroneous information. In any event, we live in a democracy. Why are those 3 councillors so determined to even prevent matters from being discussed on the floor of Council? We remain hopeful for better going forward.