The Georgian Trail was not on the agenda for the meeting, which was held to deal with several planning related matters. However, Councillor Gerald Shortt raised the issue during the public question period of the meeting.

Shortt's questions on the matter led to a general discussion around the table, with several members of council indicating they think that any move to pave portions of the trail need to be looked at again. Just a few weeks ago Meaford council unanimously supported a resolution to apply for federal and provincial infrastructure funding to resurface the trail.

The resurfacing project would include paving over - with asphalt - portions of the trail located within Meaford, Thornbury and Collingwood.

At Monday night's meeting councillor Shortt wanted to know if council would have more discussion on the matter.

"I'm getting a lot of questions about this. The input I'm getting is that people don't want it paved at all," said Shortt.  "Will council have a decision on whether (the trail board paves the trail) in Meaford or not? Can the trail board override council?" Shortt asked.

Councillors Jim McPherson and Lynda Stephens represent the Municipality of Meaford on the Georgian Trail Board of Management. At Monday's meeting councillor McPherson said he would not be willing to revisit the decision. Councillor Stephens said she understood the proposed project to resurface the trail included several potential options - one of which was paving.

McPherson also said that, despite what some residents think, the Georgian Trail is not a nature trail at all.

"Some people perceive the trail as a nature trail. It's never been a nature trail. It's a rail bed," said McPherson, adding that paving the trail in urban areas would solve the problem of invasive weed plants growing too close to the trail and reducing its size. "Paving it in urban areas would solve that problem," he said.

McPherson added that the paving project would not go forward unless the grant funding is available from the upper levels of government.

Stephens said she doesn't believe the final decision to pave portions of the trail has been made.

"I don't think it's a done deal. We'll see," said Stephens.

It was obvious during the discussion about the trail that members of council have received many comments about the proposal to pave the urban portions of the facility.

"People are really concerned and by far the vast majority have said to me the don't want asphalt on the trail," said Councillor Harley Greenfield. "I don't know how many times I've seen dandelions grow up through asphalt," Greenfield added in response to the concerns about weeds along the trail.