Central Frontenac Council - Sep. 11

Sep 13, 2012

Heated words regarding decision on  planning services

Things heated up at the regular council meeting at Oso hall following CAO Shawn Trepanier's delivery of his Planning Services Review. Currently the township retains the professional services of Tunnock Consulting (at a cost of $1500 per year) and their senior planner Glenn Tunnock assists the Township and council by developing and reviewing planning documents and also acts on behalf of the Township to provide services to individual applications for planning. He works alongside one full time township employee\, the planing coordinator who performs various duties including planning and cemetery coordinator, and also acts as deputy clerk. In his report the CAO reported that the current practice of using a consultant has “minimal financial impact on the township since most costs are born by individual applicants” but the report also noted that “when the consultant is asked for an opinion related to Township issues related to zoning or planning- that the Township may pay for his services. The report also outlines the current planning practices of the Frontenac Islands township who uses the services of two county planners on staff there but who also have their own in house planning coordinator. The report cites an increase in planning issues over the past five years and the purpose of the review was to make the necessary changes so that township staff is better able to meet the increased planning service demands in Central Frontenac.

In the report the CAO recommended that council choose one of two options-1), maintain the current level of service or 2) retain the services of a professional planner on a part time basis (one day per week) which would allow the planning coordinator to dedicate more time to application reviews and other job related duties. Off the bat Mayor Gutowski was surprised to not find a third option in the report- namely to use the in house planning services offered by the County planning staff. “I’m in favour of engaging a planner at Frontenac County because they would be able to provide that one day per week service that we need, ” she said. Councilor Guntensberger concurred with the Mayor. “I agree. W definitely need a professional planner at the committee of adjustment meetings so that we can make decisions confidently and move things along in a more timely fashion.”

Councilor Frances Smith strongly disagreed. “Having someone from the county is not having someone from this area who knows the area and who has written the bylaws and knows where the properties are. Instead what we need to do is look at the planning coordinators position and to look at shifting some of her other duties elsewhere. Councilor Fox agreed with Smith. “I've worked with Glenn (Tunnock) for many years and he knows the area. Regarding the county they do not know the area and I just don't think its the way to go.”

Councilor Purdon refused to takes sides but said he needed more time to make a final decision. Smith asked for more concrete numbers from staff to see exactly how many applications for severances and minor variances have taken place over the last five years. Cathy McMunn said she could do that. Councilor Jeff Matson weighed in and agreed with the Mayor saying, “Going with a county planner one day a week would make sense.” Frances Smith had the last word and recalled the old saying-" Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't". In the end a motion was passed directing staff to make more information available to staff preceding the next council meeting that will take place September 25 at Piccadilly hall where they plan to come to a final decision.

Audit RFP

Following an RFP for auditors for 2012, the firm KPMG was appointed. The firm has been working with the township for five years. CAO Shawn Trepanier said at the meeting, “Though their price was not the lowest, it was competitive and it is our recommendation to go with KPMG for another three year term which could be extended.

Central Frontenac 2012 Swim Program

Kristen Hawley and Holly Dickinson were commended for the report they handed in outlining the 2012 swim program in Central Frontenac. Regarding recommendations for next year they asked that the township consider posting signs where poison ivy is most prevalent. Township agreed to look into the current By-law that addresses noxious weeds and would look into how to go about cleaning the docks and making sure that they are moved when necessary into deeper water to assure safe diving.

Central Frontenac rejects Fish TV request

by Jeff Green

Rachelle Hardesty, the general manager of the Land O’Lakes Tourist Association (LOLTA), was a no-show as a delegate to Central Frontenac Council on Tuesday Night.

It might have been just as well, as Council was not in a very generous mood in response to a request for funding support from LOLTA for a series of eight episodes of Fish TV to be filmed in the Land O’Lakes region over five years.

In her written request, Hardesty included some tourist impact data that was generated using a software model provided by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, which estimated that the programs will bring in 9,000 tourists to the region, and up to $3,000,000 in spending per year for several years.

The request was for a commitment of $5,000, to be paid either out of the 2013 budget, or over two years between 2013 and 2014.

Mayor Janet Gutowski said that at least three other jurisdictions, North and South Frontenac and Addington Highlands, have made the $5,000 commitment, and that all 9 jurisdictions in the Land O’Lakes region have being approached. The Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDC) in Frontenac and Lennox and Addington are also being approached for a matching commitment, meaning that up to $90,000 will be put towards a partnership between the Land O’Lakes and Fish TV.

“We’ve heard all this before,” said Councilor Norm Guntensperger, “from another outfit.”

“I think you are referring to the Dimestore Fisherman, which did end up receiving funding from the CFDC, and were in the region in July, I believe,” said Mayor Gutowski.

“I’m not sure why these people need our money to film a show that they will then sell to networks and advertisers,” said Guntensperger. “It all smells rather fishy to me. I don’t think we have a budget for this. I can’t support it.”

With no other members of Council speaking in favour of the expenditure, Mayor Gutowski did a bit of bait cutting herself, and read in a motion to receive the proposal from the Land O’Lakes Tourism Association “for information” and take no further action on the request for funding.