Photo by Emily Chatwood / MBC News
The Town of Greater Napanee will hold a special council meeting next week to address claims that construction of an in-town trail near Riverside Cemetery violates provincial law.
The claims were raised during Tuesday evenings council meeting and were accompanied by a petition.
Harold Card told council about 310 people have signed a petition against the trail.
He also questioned whether the proposed trail complies with rules overseen by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO).
Card said an unidentified BAO employee told him a walking trail may be permitted in a cemetery if it is away from graves and interment areas, but recreational activities are generally not considered an appropriate cemetery use.
Mayor Terry Richardson has asked staff to release a detailed report by the end of the week outlining how the Town determined it was legally authorized to proceed.
The report will include a timeline of decisions dating back to March 2025, along with correspondence from the BAO and examples of similar cemetery trails in Ontario.
The proposed route had been changed after concerns were raised about its distance from the Ramsey family plot. Deputy Mayor Brian Calver said the route was moved farther away following an on-site review.
Card disputed the suggestion that the revised route is entirely outside cemetery land and presented four alternative routes on municipal property.
The Town says a BAO licensing lead officially authorized the trail in June 2026. It also says follow-up correspondence confirmed the proper process was followed and the trail was permitted.
The Town says petitioners acknowledged that wording in their petition was not accurate, but argued it remained valid because residents signed based on information they were given.
Mayor Terry Richardson said the concerns would be reviewed.
The special meeting is expected to provide council and the public with further details about the trail project and its approval process. No date has yet to be set.
Written by Emily Chatwood
