Feature Article April 3, 2002
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Council gets set to determine 2002 budgetBy Jeff GreenWhile this years budget was not a major agenda item at the March 26 CF Council meeting, it was on the minds of many councillors and the mayor, and a formal all day budget meeting has been scheduled for April 9th at the Township Office in Sharbot Lake.Council decided to use the figures provided to them by staff in the draft budget as the basis of their line item by line item deliberations, and while nothing has been stated officially, at least two of the councillors, Jack Nicholson and Boyce Peters, said they hoped to keep any increase under 9%. Last year, Council raised taxes by 8.9%.
Councillor Frances Smith wondered "how we can look at our long term viability. At some point we're going to have to look that. Some councils are looking five years ahead. We need to go at least 3."
In other matters, Chris Matheson, the newly hired Information Technologist for Central and North Frontenac was introduced to council.
Kennebec Community Centre Well. The Quinte Region Conservation Authority has requested that one of two wells in Kennebec be utilized as part of the Provincial Groundwater Monitering Program. This would involve restricting the well to the use of the conservation authority for the duration of the study. After some debate, it was decided to recommend the well in Kennebec Park be used by the Conservation Authority for the study.
Tom Taylor - Sharbot Lake High School Principal Tom Taylor addressed council. The High School is one of the partners in the Community Technology Development Centre (CTDC), which is a program currently located at the Sharbot Lake Retail Centre. The CDTC takes older computers and refurbishes them for local use. Taylor reported to Council that the CTDC has distributed 800 computers since October. "There is no reason that a student in this community should be without a computer," Taylor said, adding "the 800 computers have gone out to the Limestone Board and the program is now expanding to Lanark and Lanark Catholic Boards."
Taylor reported that the CDTC is outgrowing its current location, and is looking at another location "on Highway 38, just south of the village. It is an accessible site, and we have someone who is looking into buying it for our use." Taylor asked council for their support, either through providing snow removal or helping out with the cost of getting refuse to the dump.
Fire Department Coordinator Debarnardi - Jay Debarnardi addressed council on several matters. He brought to council for approval a "Standard Mutual Aide Agreement" with BBS township in Lanark. the agreement is intended to "formalise" the ongoing informal cooperation between the fire departments in CF and BBS. While there was some concern with the wording of the agreement and DeBarnardi was asked to clarify this, the agreement was passed in principal. DeBarnardi also mentioned a "First Response Initiative" with the Bedford Fire Department that is being considered. This will deal with properties that may be in one of the townships but are closer to a fire hall in the other township than on in their own. "The First Response Initiative" will specify when fire departments can be the first in at a fire outside of their own jurisdiction.
DeBarnardi will return to Council with a budget request on April 9th.
Other New Business. There was a request for $3 000 from the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance to cover CF's portion of the liability insurance on the trail, which was sent back for more information. As well, the 911 Management Committee Licence Agreement was brought to council for consideration.
Council will next meet in regular session on Monday April 8 at 7:00 pm, at the Public Library Building in Mountain Grove.
