I am a citizen of a rural…

I am a citizen of a rural community and have attended several OMB prehearings and hearings in my region. As an observer of this farcical quasi-judicial system, I will not mince my words. You have a single member (despite the term "tribunal"), of urban origin, oblivious to the concerns of a rural community who presides over the hearing, feigning interest in the matter at hand. The bias of the member has been patently clear to me, especially given the lack of consideration toward the township's unanimous rejection of the original application. The concerns of citizens who act as participants are obviously insignificant to the member's decision. The legal representative of the proponent is allowed to postpone hearings, submit revised site plans the night before the hearing and behave in a manner that could not possibly be condoned by the Law Society. And all to the delight of the Wizard of Oz sitting at the front of the room. If this farce is meant to supplant the need for the legal system (courtroom/judge, etc.), then it definitely needs fixing. Moreover, if the proponent loses, he merely writes off the cost as a business expense, thereby reducing his income taxes. On the other hand, any Party made up of concerned local citizens must pay expenses in hard-earned after tax dollars. A David and Goliath story, if I ever heard one. Should the proponent not have to pay all court costs if he loses his appeal to the OMB, especially after losing the original application unanimously?

The OMB is broken and needs fixing!

[Original Comment ID: 207242]