This week, I’d like us to lightly visit several items which have significant ramifications to the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Let’s begin with the David Secord House at 46 Paxton Ln. — a heritage building of local, provincial and national importance which this columnist outlined in the Feb. 6, 2025 edition of The Lake Report (“Archi-i-text: Maj. David Secord’s home — when it doesn’t work”).

In the latter half of last year, Hummel Properties came forward with a proposal to save this historic property that had been tied up for years in negotiation with the developer who owned the property and associated lands.

This overture was widely applauded by the residents of St. Davids and many heritage invested citizens across NOTL.

On multiple occasions, Hummel represented that they would weather-in the Secord building — specifically rebuilding the roof, which they stated was critical to preserve it from further deterioration during the winter.

Unfortunately, a visit to the top of Paxton Lane this winter seems to make it clear that we got diddly-squat — not even the very cheap address of tarping the building as a temporary address to winter protection.

Now, the proponent may wish to claim that the town’s slow approval processes (relative only to the proposed subdivision) stymied the original timeline for reconstruction, but that excuse doesn’t preclude something like tarping — an action that would have shown commitment toward preserving the historic structure.

Which leaves us to wonder: is the Secord House simply a sacrificial pawn in the game?

Moving on to other news, the legal challenge launched by NOTL resident and ethical developer, Nicholas Colaneri — alleging the town failed to follow proper planning and heritage rules with respect to the Shaw Festival’s applications around the Royal George — came before the court on Feb. 26.

While no decision was rendered, apparently the justice concluded there was legal merit to the challenge, pushing the hearing forward to a future date (anticipated to be within a month) and granted a four-week continuance of the stay on the property vis-à-vis the theatre and ticket office.

Of course, should the hearing not occur within the next four weeks, another continuance of the stay will be in order, pending said hearing and the court’s subsequent decision on the matter.

Apparently, while the Shaw Festival can flex its muscle to influence the town’s decision-making process, the judicial system moves to its own priorities and schedule.

We’ll continue to watch as the matter unfolds.

Shifting now to the region, in last week’s meeting a majority of members of council (with the notable exceptions of members from St. Catharines, Niagara Falls and Welland — all of whom would see their political reach expand significantly after amalgamation) voted in favour of placing some controls around Ford’s appointed chair, Bob Gale, and his autocratic move towards ramming the amalgamation agenda down the throats of Niagara voters.

Specifically, the council directed Gale “to refrain from any further action and utilization of any further regional resources or staff time … in connection with a review of regional governance or municipal amalgamation.”

Further, they voted to initiate a review of the regional government operations to identify and address duplication and inefficiencies based on hard data, financial analysis while soliciting public input.

It’s interesting that this vote came hot on the heels of Ford’s statements regarding amalgamation stating, “If it’s going to go, then it has to be from Niagara by Niagara. It has to have the approvals from the majority of mayors, it has to have approval for the majority of elected officials,” and continued by suggesting that “hopefully 70 to 80 per cent of the population agree” making the implication that the public should be consulted and their opinions would have weight.

That’s an interesting stance from someone who has historically pushed for amalgamation, but then again, Ford apparently has never seen the research which unequivocally shows there is no financial benefit to doing so (saying “I’ve never seen that” in response to a question regarding such last Wednesday).

That said, Gale seems to have taken a page directly from the premier’s playbook because he didn’t have any facts or data to support his position either.

Thank God for Fort Erie Mayor Wayne Redekop and the majority of councillors who voted in favour of simple things, like facts, data and proper financial analysis.

Hopefully, logic will continue to prevail and the governance review will be conducted by a professional firm with a long track record of specializing in auditing organizations with the intent of re-engineering to achieve efficiencies and higher levels of performance.

Goodness knows, in its current form, the regional government seems to be a bottomless hole into which taxpayers continually pour money and receive few practical benefits from having done so.

Think of the proposed roundabout in St. Davids as an example … just sayin’.    

Brian Marshall is a NOTL realtor, author and expert consultant on architectural design, restoration and heritage.