Central Frontenac Council - Jun 12/12

Jun 14, 2012

Railway Crossings need Repairs

Council was made aware of improvements that need to be undertaken at the Eagle Lake and Crow Lake railway crossings after Canadian Pacific railway staff deemed both unsafe.

The concerns raised by CPR staff at the Eagle Lake crossing were about unsafe sight lines and CP staff suggested that rock removal and brushing were both required at that site. Central Frontenac Public Works Manager Mike Richardson also suggested paving 80 feet of Eagle Lake Road where it crosses the tracks, which he said would go a long way in reducing future maintenance there. CP staff also recommended arms with flashing lights at the Crow Lake Road crossing since they would improve visibility and alleviate the need for more costly rock removal to improve sight lines there. Council passed a motion approving immediate improvements at the Crow Lake crossing and accepted the remainder of the report for information.

Positive meeting of County's public works managers

A recent meeting on June 6 of public works managers from the Frontenac townships was deemed by Richardson to have been a positive experience that led to positive discussions regarding areas of common interest and the many possible advantages of working together.

“We were able to come up with some possible scenarios of how we might better be able to work together in areas of roads, waste sites and purchases as well as on long term projects and issues like education and policy”, Richardson said.

Activity Report

Richardson reported that his staff have put down calcium on 50% of the township's roads to control dust. An alternate product called magnesium chloride which is less corrosive and which is deemed  to be 59% more effective had been suggested by Councilor Jeff Matson at an earlier council meeting. The substance has been tested by road staff on a 12 kilometre stretch of the Bell Line Road. The results are pending.

Arden Road Construction

All of the sub-base work has been completed on the Arden Road and treatment to the surface will begin when Crains' Construction completes current work at Seeley's bay

Elizabeth Street

Richardson reported that the second stage of the archeological study required for improvements and storm sewer reconstruction on Elizabeth Street in Sharbot Lake is currently underway.

New Street Lights on HWY 509

Council had an in depth discussion regarding a request from a resident that two lights be installed on  Hwy. 509, one at Hwy. 7 and the second at Ardoch Road. Council debated the issue and the cost, which has not been budgeted for.

A preliminary motion approving the immediate installation of one light at Ardoch Road at an estimated cost of $3600, with staff being directed to contact MTO about installing a second light on Hwy 7, was defeated. Mayor Gutowski then suggested a motion requesting to install a light at Ardoch Road for 2013 and to contact the MTO about the installation of a light at Hwy 7. Councilor Frances Smith was opposed to the delay, saying, "In the meantime accidents could happen there in the next year". In the end council passed a motion to defer the final motion until staff had a chance to review the budget numbers.

Boat ramp repairs

Council passed a motion to repair the boat ramps at Kennebec and Clear Lakes at an estimated cost of $10,000 each.

Central Frontenac resident blasts silent council

by Jeff Green

Jo Crivellaro had a return engagement at Central Frontenac Council this week.

A 14-year resident of the township, Crivellaro appeared before council last month. On that occasion she  made comments about township employees Mike Richardson and Kyle Labette that led Mayor Gutowski to warn her that there may be legal consequences to what she was saying.

This time, Crivellaro read from a prepared statement, levelling a number of attacks on the way the township waste sites are managed, the way roadsides are brushed, and at the way Mayor Gutowski has responded to her concerns.

“I have made complaints; the policies and procedures of our dumps are putting our employees at risk; certain employees at our dumps are putting fellow employees and the public at risk; the terrible mess of the clearing of the brush at the sides of roads; the lack of clearing of brush that is blocking views at important intersections in various villages in our township; the bathrooms at Sharbot Lake beach being locked on the May 24 weekend; the raft not being in the water; bathrooms without doors, the list goes on …”

Among her allegations was one that there has been drinking on the job at township waste sites.

As far as Mayor Gutowski is concerned, Crivellaro accused her of turning a “blind eye to the fact that there are people in job positions that they shouldn’t be in.” She also said that instead of taking complaints from the public seriously, Gutowski turns on those who complain.

“You repeatedly said that your employees were working on ‘an act of faith’. Basically you give them a job and you trust them to do it. When people complain, you point the finger at the complainers. That seems to be a big part of the problem,” Crivellaro said.

She concluded her remarks by addressing council as a whole, accusing them of complacency.

“I would like anyone here on council, who feels that perhaps, they have not earned their paycheque, or that their services might be more valued elsewhere, to make that move now,” she said.

When Jo Crivellaro was finished speaking, Council voted to receive her presentation, without comment.