Feature Article January 29, 2004
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Jay DeBernardi resigns as CF Fire Chief
At a meeting this week, Central Frontenac Council accepted with regret a letter of resignation, effective February 27, from Fire Chief Jay DeBernardi. Council also wished DeBernardi success in his new position as full time Fire Chief in the township of Rideau Lakes.
DeBernardi leaves the township as the fire department is in the midst of several projects, and DeBernardi, in his resignation letter, said he has been allowed to continue to be part of the Central Frontenac team through the transition [to a new fire chief] in order to provide continuity, and to help complete projects we have undertaken that are nearing completion.
In deciding to seek a replacement, councillors made mention of the success DeBernardi has had in bringing the four district fire crews into a single township department. Councillor Logan Murray suggested not hiring a new Chief, but rotating the position among the four deputy chiefs, perhaps on a yearly basis. However, several other Councillors pointed out that it was necessary to have one person available to deal with the increasingly cumbersome set of provincial regulations and grant programs. The position will be advertised and a hiring committee struck.
Coffee Urn woes It was bound to happen. Last year the township instituted a policy for Community Hall rentals that did not sit well with some of the groups that had been using the halls for free since they were built, and spending considerable amounts of money on upkeep and enhancements from time to time. One of those groups, the Clerks report did not specify which, saying only it was one of the Seniors groups, has asked Council to replace the coffee urn in the Hall. As I understand it, the seniors group originally purchased the coffee urn for everyone to use, but feel since they are now paying rent, the township should be supplying items like this, clerk-administrator Heather Fox wrote.
Foxs report then asked a more general question as to what the township should be providing in the halls.
After much debate, it was decided the municipality should take on responsibility for a fridge, stove, coffee urn and tea kettle, a microwave, tables and chairs, and an air conditioner in each of the halls.
RVCA Budget A preliminary budget was received from the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, one of three Conservation Authorities with territory in Central Frontenac. Central Frontenac is one of the smaller components of the RVCA, paying less than 2% of the budget. The proposed levy for 2004 is $4,850, up 18.5% from the $4,094.55 the township paid last year. I think we should write back and suggest they bring that increase down to 5 or 6%, said Councillor Frances Smith, adding, I think its an unusual increase, even though it doesnt mean a lot of money to us.
What scares me about these increases is that the province cuts their funding and they pass it on to us, said Mayor MacDonald.
Council decided to write back and ask that the increase be lowered.
How much snow to plough A debate took place about minimum road standards for winter maintenance in the township. Public Works Manager Bill Nicol told Council the cost of winter maintenance is around $750,000. The Mayor expressed the opinion that the roads might be over sanded in comparison to neighbouring townships, and wondered about limiting sanding to curves and hills and leaving straight patches with less sand. Both Councillors Logan Murray and Bill Snyder said in their areas service was not always adequate and did not think a decrease in service made sense, especially since certain roads sometimes go unploughed for long times after snow storms. Other councillors said the roads are very well maintained. Council decided to adopt the following minimum standards, deferring discussion of decreasing service for another day. These standards reflect current practice:
- Crews will be dispatched to clear Road 38 when 2.5 cm of snow has fallen; other paved roads when 5 cm has fallen; more travelled gravel roads when 7.5 cm has fallen; and less travelled gravel roads when 10 cm has come down (less travelled gravel roads are those with less than 50 cars using them on an average day).
- The response times are: 12 hours for snow on Road 38 and 6 hours for ice; 16 hours for snow on other paved roads and 12 hours for ice; 24 hours for snow on gravel roads and 16 hours for ice; and 36 hours for snow on less travelled gravel roads and 24 hours for ice. Bus routes are cleared as early as possible regardless of the type of road.
