Centreville Beach has long been a popular spot for locals to enjoy some time on Meaford’s waterfront without the crowds that can be found in other beach areas.
In August of last year, however, the municipal picnic table and trash bin were removed from the small waterfront lot, and the following month a sign with a municipal logo was erected informing that ‘This is not a public beach area’. In the months since residents have been demanding answers.
At Monday’s council meeting (January 13), concerned residents attended to ask council to take possession of the property and to return it to a publicly accessible beach.
A 24-slide presentation to council was led by Peter Van Drunen, who questioned the closure of the beach area.
“We are here representing a large group of local residents to convey a compelling case for an invaluable opportunity for the Municipality of Meaford to secure permanent public waterfront access at a minimal cost, as it is clearly in the best interest of community,” Van Drunen told council.
Council was told that research by residents indicates that a local family has a rightful claim to the property, and that family has offered to transfer the property to the municipality for a nominal fee in order for the beach area to remain accessible to the public.
Van Drunen suggested that, “By way of legal land title searches and consultation with the Trusler Family Heirs, we know the following: Alfred J. Trusler acquired the deed to properties on both sides of Centreville in 1910. As parcels were sold off, the Trusler family retained the waterfront Lot 38. A County Registry update effort in 1958 resulted in the Lot 38 being deemed “ownership unknown” due to absence of owner at the time. In 1971, the Trusler family registered a claim of ownership of Lot 38. The rightful claim to the property was inherited by Brent & Nancy (Trusler) Flanakin.”
In October of last year, Brent Flanakin attended council to offer to transfer the property to the municipality, and he told council that he has research materials to back his family’s claim to the property.
During his presentation to council on January 13, Van Drunen suggested that meetings with the now former CAO last fall, and subsequent statements in media releases issued by the municipality only served to cause confusion due to what he suggested were inaccurate and misleading statements contained in the press releases.
For council however, the ownership of the property remains an unanswered question that they are hoping to get to the bottom of. Deputy Mayor Shirley Keaveney offered a notice of motion that will direct staff to fully investigate the issue in consultation with municipal lawyers in order to determine who owns the property, if anyone.
“I have already talked Mayor Kentner and our clerk and members of senior staff, and let them know that it is my intention to bring a notice of motion today to address this very issue of Centreville Beach, because I am going to be requesting from staff to provide further information on any appropriate next steps in determining rightful ownership,” Keaveney told council. “It’s been established that the municipality doesn’t own it, we don’t know at this point who does, so that report will include further legal opinion, exact ownership, and what next steps should be.”
Mayor Ross Kentner offered his thoughts on the issue, reading from a prepared statement.
“Thank you for your presentation to council. As noted previously in an open session meeting, the municipality does not own the lands that are the subject property of your presentation. If the municipality were to pursue an inquiry into these lands, legal costs would be accrued at a cost to the taxpayer. As council is the decision-making body of the municipality it is up to council to bring forward a motion for discussion and debate to decide if the municipality should bear the cost of reviewing the subject lands through the municipality’s legal council. So your presentation has been noted, and filed per the procedural bylaw,” said Kentner.
Deputy Mayor Keaveney will bring forward her motion at the next meeting of council, which will initiate a request for a full report from municipal staff and legal council outlining the rightful ownership of the property and any steps that could be taken by the municipality in order to secure the property for use as a public beach area.
