Mayoralty candidate Shari Green will not vote on fourth reading of the controversial rezoning of the former Haldi Road school.
On Oct. 3 city council approved the first three readings of the rezoning, to facilitate the creation of the Northern Supportive Recovery Centre for Women - a
30-bed long-term addiction treatment facility.
In a radio interview on Thursday, Green said she will not vote on the fourth and final reading of the rezoning because the centre's project manager, Marshall Smith, is a volunteer on her campaign.
Green could not be reached for comment as of press time, but Smith said he had no contact with Green's campaign until Oct. 5.
"She phoned me on the fifth in the afternoon.
"She asked her if I had a media distribution list," Smith said.
"And both the Haldi proponents and Shari agree that recusing herself from fourth reading ... is the appropriate thing to do.
"Shari exercises excellent judgment."
Smith said he is an unpaid volunteer and no money has changed hands between the Northern Supportive Recovery Centre for Women and Green's campaign.
Haldi Road community committee member Laura Jagodnik said Green's connection to the Haldi Road issue will be an election issue for residents of the community.
"The politicians have made this an election issue," Jagodnik said.
"Shari Green made the motion which pushed this through, now she's saying she won't vote on it."
On Sept. 19, Green proposed the motion which moved the
issue to a public hearing.
