SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. - Some Summerside city councillors who proposed that the city buy Heritage Trailer Park to save its tenants from eviction are pulling back on some of their initial suggestions.
Coun. Brent Gallant tried to bring forward a motion at the June 18 council meeting, seconded by Coun. Gordie Whitlock, that would enter the city into negotiations to buy the trailer park, but if negotiations failed, would see the city expropriate the land. Their attempt was rebuffed by the rest of council, most of whom felt they didn’t have enough information to entertain the idea.
However, they did pass a motion directing staff to ask the park’s owner, Steve Malayny, to give the residents an additional six-month extension to their move deadline.
At Tuesday night’s committee of council meeting, Whitlock and Gallant again proposed that the city buy the trailer park land, but the tone was decidedly more diplomatic with no mention of expropriation. The councillors said they still believe this is a viable option to help the residents of the park, some of whom don’t have the resources to move their mobile homes or nowhere to put them if they could find the money to do so.
“It’s really been a life-altering experience for a lot of (those residents). We spoke yesterday with a gentleman who has lived there for 41 years and he just doesn’t know what he’s going to do.
“I recognize … that as a municipal council, we don’t have a lot of power in this; we do have some levers we can pull but not many,” said Whitlock.
“As responsible individuals, councillors and mayor we have to do what we can. It may not be enough, but I think we should at least try.”
Whitlock and Gallant said they will bring forward a new motion at the next regular council meeting on July 16 that will direct the city to take “necessary steps” to ensure the residents of the park get a six-month extension to their eviction notices, that the city start negotiations with the owner of the park to purchase the land and somehow use it to help address affordable housing needs in the city.
All councillors expressed a desire to do something to help the park residents, who have until Nov. 30 to vacate or move their mobile home. But, some expressed their reluctance to take such direct action as it would set a problematic precedent. Coun. Greg Campbell and Coun. Tyler Desroches also said they have been urged by a number of their constituents not to vote in favour of a buyout by the city.
“I’ve been banging at the doors in Ward 5. and there isn’t anybody yet I’ve spoken with that isn’t concerned about those people and aren’t compassionate… But, absolutely none of them want to get into the business of buying a trailer park,” said Campbell.
Some councillors also alluded to other efforts to help the residents currently underway, which are being assisted by the city's senior leadership, though they declined to discuss those efforts publically yet.
Councillors also said senior staff have been in contact with Malayny and that talks to secure an additional six months for the park residents are ongoing.
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