NEWSMAKERS 2022: Collapse of Bethesda Sports Fields deal, lawsuit made news in Stouffville

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 3, 2023

One of the biggest stories of the year in Stouffville was the town’s dalliance with selling the Bethesda Sports Fields and the subsequent lawsuit after the deal fell through.

In April, it became public that the town was being sued for $38.1 million. According to a statement of claim filed by 2348219 Ontario Inc., the town breached its contractual duty to exercise its discretion in good faith by failing to waive the outstanding conditions of the sale that allowed it to terminate the transaction. The town released a statement saying it received an offer in April of 2021 to purchase the Bethesda Sports Park. “The town never listed the property for sale,” the statement said. After consideration, the town said it did not feel it was in a position to complete the sale for the current sports park since a new location had not been finalized or secured. Having consulted with legal counsel, the town said it does not believe that the claim has merit. The purchase price agreed to, according to the claim, was $77.9 million.

In June, an investigator has found the Town of Stouffville did not follow proper procedures in reporting out on a closed session meeting about selling the Bethesda Sports Park. John Mascarin from Aird and Berlis wrote that council did not comply with the reporting out requirement of the procedural bylaw. “The complete absence of any mention of the matter being considered in the meeting left the public entirely in the dark as to whether council even met to consider the matter,” he said. As of press time the matter was still before the courts.