Central Frontenac Council

Nov 25, 2016

Massive insurance savings through joint insurance RFP.

Central Frontenac has cut its insurance cost by 2/3rds through a joint request for proposal for insurance services that was undertaken by the four Frontenac Townships and Frontenac County, with the help of a consultant. Insurance companies were asked to quote on providing a single policy to cover all 5 entities, and to quote in each individually. In the end, by choosing the lowest individual offers, each of the townships and the county have realised savings. But none as much as Central Frontenac. Aon Insurance offered to provide “as good or better coverage than we had in the past” said Treasurer Michael McGovern, “at a greatly reduced price.”

Council agreed to sign a three year contract, to cover 2017 and 2019 with Aon at a price of $129,628 each year. In 2016 the township paid over $300,000 for insurance.

“The savings are about $175,000 this year, and when I saw the numbers I looked over the policy very carefully to make sure I wasn’t missing anything,” said McGovern. He said he also received assurances from the consultants, Cameron and Associates, that the policy was sound.

Money to be set aside for Arena Floor

Council decided to follow the advice of the Frontenac Arena Board and will set aside $50,000 to go towards a new floor when the time comes to replace the 40 year old floor at the arena.

Councilor Brent Cameron, who is on the Board, said that the “floor does not need to be replaced this year, or next year or even the year after, but it will need to be replaced, and it could cost up to $700,000.”

The arena supervisor will be proposing that the board do an in-depth analysis of the floor as part of the 2017 budget to determine how long it will last and how much it will cost to replace.

The estimated share of the cost to Central Frontenac is $287,000, so $50,000 would help mitigate against financing costs when the time comes. South Frontenac Township is also committed to creating a $50,000 reserve over the summer, but as they move towards finalising their 2017 budget this month, that commitment is in danger of being lost in the face of other budgetary constraints.

Holiday closure – The township office will be closed on Friday, December 23rd at 4:30 and will not re-open until Tuesday, January 3 at 8:30 am.

New approval process for waste sites

Interim Public Works Manager Mike Richardson, who said he will be leaving the township’s employ at the end of next week ( note - he’s said that before) encouraged the township to employ Golder and Associates to complete some site plan work on the Olden Waste site in order for the site to comply with a new approval process. In place of the Certificate of Approval Process that has been in place for years, a new process, the Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) process. Richardson said that making the change is voluntary for now, but will be mandatory soon. Council agreed and Golder will begin working next month with the expectation of completing the new approval process by February.

Engineering work for 4th Depot Lake Road Culvert Replacement

Council has contracted with Greer Galloway to the tune of $8995 to engineer and administer of a large culvert replacement on 4th Depot Lake Road.

Canada 150

Bill Bowick, and his sidekicks Rose Marie Bowick and Ray Fletcher brought an update about the activities of the Canada 150 committee. Bowick said that plans were proceeding for events throughout the centennial year, starting with a New Year’s Eve Dance in Sharbot Lake and a New Year’s Day levee in Arden. Other events that are planned include a heritage costume dance, a writing project by the United Church Women, a sharing circle by the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation, and special events at the Frontenac Heritage Festival in February, Canada Day, and at the Parham Fair in August.