Paterak will seek another term on council

May 29, 2014 · 0 Comments

By Bill Rea
There are still a number of things that need to be taken care of, especially in Ward 1.
So Councillor Richard Paterak has signed up to seek another term at the ward’s Regional rep.
If successful, this would be Paterak’s fourth term at Peel Region and his sixth on Town council.
“I still find the work fascinating and enjoyable,” he remarked.
Paterak said aggregate issues remain top of mind in his ward, as the time is coming when they will see pits staring to close. A master plan is going to be needed to deal with those closures, and decisions have to be made on what such a plan is going to look like. Passive recreation seems the most likely use for these lands, but he said they are open to any ideas.
“We’re the land use planners,” he observed. “We have a lot to say about what happens in the future on these lands.”
Paterak also said he would like to see more of a vision in the coming term.
“We talk about vision, but we never quite get there,” he observed, adding a lot of it involves how the Town deals with the public. A better mechanism is needed to help people understand the process. He added there have been improvements in public service, but more is needed there too.
Addressing economic development issues, Paterak observed that any municipality trying to attract more industrial-commercial assessment would be hard-pressed to look the other way when a large corporation shows interest in the area.
“I’m sorry if people see it otherwise, but it’s a no-brainer,” he commented.
Paterak was not willing to comment on his chance of re-election.
“I will never say if I’m going to win,” he said. “I could never presuppose the mood of the public, and that’s what elections are all about.”