Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Burlington has confirmed that its $15-million offer to buy a portion of Millcroft Greens Golf Club has been rejected.
During the March 10 meeting, council reviewed a confidential report LLS-20-26 from the city’s legal team about whether certain information could be made public due to solicitor-client privilege.
“Following that review, council accepted city legal’s recommendation to waive solicitor-client privilege over limited information related to council’s authorization of staff to negotiate the acquisition of the remaining Millcroft Golf Course lands, excluding those already approved for redevelopment by the Ontario Land Tribunal, subject to the final approval of council,” the city said in a statement.
This information was shared by Councillor Bentivegna and Mayor Meed Ward after they received advice from the CAO that it was okay to disclose. However, once it became clear from the Commissioner of Legal and Legislative Services that there had been a breach of solicitor-client privilege, actions were taken to remove this information from social media. Both members of Council expressed their regret for this mistake. The council accepted their apology.
Council’s waiver only applies to the specific details that have already been shared publicly, which include:
that Council authorized the CAO to negotiate the acquisition of the remaining Millcroft Golf Course lands and report back to Council for further instructions if the owner is open to selling at the offered price; that the Chief Administrative Officer reached out to ask about a possible City purchase of all or part of those lands for $15 million-a figure roughly three times what was paid for the golf course in 2020 before residential use was allowed on those lands; that subsequently, the owner informed the City that they were not interested in selling any remaining land at that price.
All other elements regarding this matter remain confidential and protected under solicitor-client privilege.
“The two members of council apologized for their inadvertent error,” council’s resolution states. “Council accepted that apology.”
Millcroft Greens Corporation, a partnership between Argo Development Corp. and those running the golf course, owns Millcroft Golf Club.
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