Council Advised To Reject River City Offer

Sarnia's Acting City Solicitor is recommending council reject River City Vineyard's offer to settle court costs in the appeal involving the church's homeless shelter. Scott McEachran, in a report to be considered at a special meeting of council Friday morning, recommends the city's outside legal counsel be instructed to make submissions on costs to the court. Each party would submit costs with the court deciding what amount, if any, is to be awarded to the winning party. July 3, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled in favour of River City, overturning a lower court decision that had closed the church's Mitton St. homeless shelter as of June 15 of last year. The church is looking at reopening the shelter and has offered to reduce its $163,000 cost claim by $15,000. If the city were to accept the offer, the $148,000 would be in addition to the city's own legal costs which already amount to more than $168,000. There's a July 23rd submission deadline on court costs and the city has until September 30 to decide if it will pursue the case further to the Supreme Court of Canada. The court of appeal ruled River City's Harbour Inn Mission falls within the meaning of "church sponsored community activities and projects" and therefore does not contravene the city's zoning bylaw.