Feature Article January 15, 2004
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Its never over until its overCentral Frontenac assumes Goodfellow road extension
Last month after Lawrence Villalta last appeared before the township Council and was subsequently informed the township would not be assuming the 242 metres of road that joins the Goodfellow Road with the Villalta property, his wife Muriel told the News the Villaltas were finished with the matter and would not be coming back to council.
In light of this statement, it was indeed surprising to see Lawrence Villaltas name on the agenda at the first council first meeting of 2004 in Mountain Grove. It was even more surprising when, by the end of the meeting, the township had reversed its decision taken on the road extension as a township road. This means the Villalta twins will indeed have front door bus pickup when they start Grade 1 next September.
The whole saga started back in September when Lawrence Villalta asked Council to pay a part of the cost of a turnaround on his road so the school bus could pick up his children. A report from staff pointed out the 242 metre road was not a township road, and had only been maintained by the township as a mistake. Further, it would cost around $60,000 to bring the road up to township standard and build a turnaround.
No one, the Villaltas included, thought it made sense for the township to pay such a sum for a little road. After several more back and forth discussions, Council decided in December to refuse the Villaltas request, backed by a legal opinion that it was not obligated to assume the road even though it had been doing maintenance on it, and that it would contravene the townships Official Plan to assume a road that did not meet the township standard.
Subsequently, on December 19, an email was forwarded to the Villaltas advising them that the road would no longer be maintained by the township as of January 1.
Councillor Snyder, of Hinchinbrooke ward faxed the following motion for Monday nights meeting: That the Township of Central Frontenac assume the last 242 metres of Goodfellow Road that has been under its care and maintenance for the past six years,.
Most councillors spoke to the motion. Councillors Smith, Harvey, and Mayor MacDonald argued that assuming the road would contravene the rules as set out by the Official Plan, but Councillors Murray, Snyder, and Nicolson and Gutowski said they thought it was important to look at things on a case-by-case basis.
Mayor MacDonald summed up his position, saying if you have a set of standards you have to live by them, to which Councillor Murray responded, the official plan says it is there to provide guidance.
In the end, the motion proposed by Bill Snyder was passed and the road will be assumed by the township.
And what will all this cost the township? In the short term, nothing. The school board has agreed to provide bussing service, but they will not be sending a school bus down the road, opting for a feeder van instead, so no new construction will be required, and the township will continue to maintain the road as it has for six years.
