Ancaster Coun. Lloyd Ferguson says activist 'crossed the line' in opinion column about Marr House

Ancaster Coun. Lloyd Ferguson investigated if restrictions could be imposed on Ancaster resident Bob Maton after he accused him of providing misinformation" after council approved the relocation of the Marr House for a proposed residential and commercial development on Wilson Street.

Ferguson questioned staff during council's Oct. 27 meeting if the city could take any action against Maton, who is also president of the Ancaster Village Heritage Community, over written comments he has made through letters and opinion columns in the Hamilton Spectator over several months about heritage issues.

He takes positions on issues and regularly appears on Op-eds and letters to the editor. I find he is putting in misinformation and not correct. I let it go up to now because of freedom of speech because you can say whatever you want even if it is not true," said Ferguson. I think he crossed the line."

In an Oct. 29 opinion column in the Hamilton Spectator, Maton states that when council approved the relocation of the Marr House to the rear of the property, it raises troubling issues."

He states the process leading to the vote was an abuse of the council decision-making process, city bylaws and the Ontario Heritage Act."

He said the decision to allow the relocation is based on flimsy evidence."

Maton states that council's decision to relocate the structure will put the Marr House's survival at risk.

The heritage act quite correctly calls this a demolition," he states.

Ferguson asked Hamilton solicitor Stephen Spracklin if the city should do something to stop Maton from making what he considered inappropriate" comments.

Spracklin said individuals have the right to raise allegations" under a democratic process. The public do have an element of due diligence when they raise issues.

But at the end of the day, individuals are free to voice their opinion," he said.

Maton said later it is very truly and quite disturbing" that Ferguson would attempt to limit Maton's right to raise important issues within Ancaster.

Maton applauded Spracklin's response about protecting an individual's free speech and right to raise issues.

He said residents in the downtown are concerned about development projects and the impact they are having on the local neighbourhood and heritage properties, such as when the Brandon House in March 2020 was demolished without any public awareness.

Spracklin said he reviewed the statements Maton made about the city process and have not found any anomalies to suggest anything inappropriate."

Director of Planning Steve Robichaud agreed that planning staff has installed a plan that will preserve the Marr building during its relocation.

He said the developers' plan to relocate the building to remove contaminated soil is consistent with the Ancaster Wilson Secondary Plan and Hamilton's Official Plan.

The secondary plan states that council should encourage the conservation of heritage resources, but not require the conservation of heritage resources."

Robichaud said that any issues that are beyond" staff's expertise will be peer-reviewed by an outside consultant.

We will be responding to Mr. Maton," said Robichaud.

This is not the first time Ferguson and Maton have butted heads over a development issue. During a December 2020 public meeting on a rezoning application for 15 Church St., Maton accused Ferguson of being abusive and defamatory," while the councillor accused the community activist of misleading the community" and not being truthful."

Maton filed a complaint with the Integrity Commissioner. Less than a month later in January 2021, the complaint was dismissed.

Maton said neither he nor his group will be dissuaded from continuing to voice their views in public about issues impacting the residents of Ancaster.

We will continue," said. We can't stop expressing our opinion especially with what is happening in the community. There is a need to investigate what is happening."