Accusations of back-room deals fly as Springwater council battles over boundary changes

Springwater Mayor Jennifer Coughlin used her Strong Mayor Powers to push forward the controversial Barrie boundary change despite council opposition.

A heated debate erupted at Springwater council Wednesday evening over a controversial plan to change the township’s boundary with the City of Barrie, with accusations of back-room deals and dirty politics flying around.

Council initially voted against the proposal to accept Barrie’s boundary adjustment. But Mayor Jennifer Coughlin stepped in, using her strong mayor powers to push the annexation forward.

“I am bringing forward a bylaw using strong mayor power to authorize the execution of the boundary adjustment and restructuring proposal of the City of Barrie,” Coughlin stated.

That move didn’t sit well with some councillors. They quickly called on the township’s solicitor to challenge the mayor’s decision in court, questioning the legality of the use of strong mayor powers in this case. Council voted 4-3 in favour of legal action, meaning the township cannot accept the boundary deal until lawyers finish reviewing the situation. If the township tries to proceed, the solicitor has been instructed to seek a court injunction to block any action.

The province has set a deadline for municipalities to decide on the boundary change by Friday, adding urgency to the dispute.