PUSLINCH TOWNSHIP - Puslinch Township council has voted against imposing a name change on privately owned Swastika Trail.

Mayor Dennis Lever acknowledged before the final vote on Wednesday evening that the issue was sensitive.

"This is a very emotional issue and there's a big divide between the two sides," Lever told the large group that attended the meeting.

However, Lever said his biggest concern is a government getting involved to change the name of a road it doesn't own against the wishes of the majority of residents.

Four out of the five councillors voted against stepping in to change the name of the street in the Puslinch Lake community near Cambridge.

The regularly scheduled meeting was moved from council chambers to the Puslinch Community Centre for more room, and two OPP officers stood at the back for the duration of the discussion.

Fourteen delegations spoke for nearly two hours, with an even split between those for and against a name change. Speakers included the road owners, Swastika Trail residents and area residents. B'nai Brith Canada presented an online petition with nearly 2,000 signatures that urged a name change.

A few of the people who spoke at times became overwhelmed by emotions, and teary.

The issue was brought to township council in the summer by a group of residents who want to change the name. In September, it passed a resolution asking the Bayview Cottagers Association to consider renaming the street.

Swastika Trail was named in the early 1920s, based on an ancient religious symbol associated with good fortune.

Supporters for keeping the name say the swastika had a long history before it was adopted by Hitler and the Nazi Party. Those who want it changed say it is disturbing because of the strong association with bigotry, anti-Semitism and intolerance.

The neighbourhood association held a vote in early November, and more than half voted to keep the name.

That vote seemed to sway most of the councillors, who expressed a hesitance to overrule a democratic process.

"I believe council should respect their democratic decision," said Coun. Matthew Bulmer.

He pointed out that council initially asked the association to consider a name change, when they could have approached the owner or decided then to change it themselves. The Municipal Act allows a local municipality to change the name of a private road after giving public notice of its intention to pass the bylaw.

Bulmer then proposed an amendment to the motion, asking that the township start the name change process when Canada Post initiates its planned change to the municipal address.

"So the two processes run concurrently," Bulmer said.

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Coun. Ken Roth questioned Bulmer, saying that he respected the democratic process but wanted to change the name if Canada Post does.

"I'm trying to open the door to the idea it may lessen the pain," Bulmer said.

Several Swastika Trail residents mentioned the hassle and expense of changing all their identification, and Bulmer suggested some may have voted to keep the name more to avoid that work.

Coun. John Sepulis seconded the amendment, but it received no other support and councillors came back to the main motion.

Sepulis was the lone councillor to vote for a name change, saying that otherwise the issue will continue to "fester and flare up periodically."

"This is a Puslinch issue because it affects how the township is viewed by the people outside the township," Sepulis said.

He said he didn't want the township to be seen in a negative light by having a street name that was "flat out offensive" to the majority of people. Recognizing the historical significance within the community, he suggested a plaque be erected in the community explaining the original name.

Coun. Susan Fielding said she grappled with the issue, calling it "one of the most difficult decisions" in her long time serving on council.

"On both sides there are very compelling arguments," Fielding said.

However, Fielding said residents voted and even if it was a slim margin, the majority did not want to change the name.