COOLEY
CEMETERY UPDATE #2 We are still waiting for the
Registrar of Cemeteries, Michael D’Mello to prepare
the declaration so that the Family Representatives and the developers can sit
done to discuss and hopefully iron out an agreement. After some prodding from Kim Craitor
– MPP Niagara Falls, Michael D’Mello [ August 26th,
2005] sent a short E-Mail that he had the names of the representatives and
would be preparing the declaration to sent out to the landowners and the
families. On September 14th,
2005 – as a result of meeting with the New City of Hamilton Officials, a
letter was sent to Michael Martin (the developer that covered a protected
dig) not to do this any more without permission from the Registrar. This
action was viewed with disgust by our families and was considered a mild slap
on the wrist for interfering with a major archaeological find. Initially the
city said that Mr. Martin had permission from the registrar but sent a letter
to Mr. Martin advising him to ensure that he gets this permission next time
he wishes to interfere. I have also had E-Mails from
Mr. Neal Ferris, who is the Regional Archaeologist for the Ontario Ministry
of Culture. He also sent a note to Mr. D’Mello
suggesting that the Registrar needs to investigate this altercation. He went
on to say that such actions make reaching an agreement between the landowner
and representatives of the deceased very difficult. As Mr. Ferris said, “It is essential the landowner
understands that they have no authority to alter the declared area and I
would assume that the Registrar will be reminding the landowner of that
fact”. He also went on to say that while exact locations of grave shafts
may have been mapped, the infilling may influence the disposition agreement(
for example, reinforcing the notion of leaving the burials intact rather than
re-locating them, since uncovering them a second time may cause some impacts. Mr. Ferris has asked us to
maintain our scrutiny. There remains to be seen the
political will to change the way the The City is pro development
and wants the tax dollars, the landowners wish to take advantage (greed) and
the registrar is sympathetic to their needs. In my estimation, the landowners
would build 38 homes in this proposed subdivision instead of 40. Surely, the
Pioneers of this era and this location are worth protecting and worth
expensing 2 homes to protect this valuable history and to ensure that the
final resting place for our family members is the final resting place and not
just at the mercy of greedy developers. The developers have known since at
least 1998 that there existed a strong possibility of a Pioneer Grave Site in
this area... Thanks, Richard Hatt |