Two of three delegations to council looking for money

Craig Bakay | Jan 23, 2019

It must be getting close to budget time.

Central Frontenac Council had three delegations to its regular meeting Tuesday in Sharbot Lake and two of those came asking for money.

First up was Anne Prichard of the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation. However, Pritchard wasn’t looking for money. Her organization is funded by the Federal Government.

What she was looking for was Council’s support and for the Township to keep referring fledgling and established businesses to her for counselling/advice, workshops and loans in some cases.

“Part of our funding is dependent on the number of consultations we do, so it helps to get the word out,” Pritchard said. “We are a not-for-profit who are governed by a board of directors and our board member from Central Frontenac is about to step down so we need another one from here.”

The next delegation was also a not-for-profit, the Central Frontenac Housing Corporation who operates the five-unit seniors complex on Clement Road.

Spokesperson Janet Gutowski said they were first asking if donations could be channeled through the Township so that tax receipts for deduction purposes could be issued.

“We can issue a receipt for donations but you can’t deduct it from your taxes,” she said.

Clerk-administrator Cathy MacMunn said that they’d looked into it but unfortunately municipalities aren’t allowed to channel donations for not-for-profits.

So, Plan B was to ask Council for a donation or a gift-in-kind towards removing a large rock in the parking lot.

In her presentation to Council, Gutowski said initial quotes to remove the rock are about $1,000. Ideally, the CFHC would like to add additional guest parking spots to the tune of about $6,000.

“We’re considering several things in this year’s budget and this will be one of the things on the list,” said Mayor Janet Gutowski.

Third up was Martha Johnston from Rural Frontenac Community Services — Programs for Rural Youth.

Johnston said their entire program costs $19,000, of which Central Frontenac Township contributes $15,500.

Johnston said the program operates Kids Club Programs at three sites in the Township, Summer camp, Steps to Success leadership programs, Bucket drumming, and the Youth Homelessness Initiative.

In the future, they would like to develop a rural youth hub at the Centre in Sharbot Lake.

“We are aspiring to create a space where youth can go after school to hang out with their friends in a monitored environment, connect with caring adults and seek professional help if required,” she said.

Tanker sold for $500
Dep. Fire Chief Jamie Riddell told Council that they received one bid on the surplus tanker, for $500. Council voted to accept the bid.

In response to a question from Coun. Bill MacDonald, Riddell said the only things they took off the old Ford truck were the fire lights, the siren and a portable pump.

Meeting time to stay at 4pm
One of the longer debates this Council has had since being sworn in involved Coun. Nicki Gowdy’s notice of motion to change Council meeting times to 6 p.m. from the current 4 p.m.

All of the standard arguments were offered from some councilors having to book time off work to holding evening meetings supposedly leading to more people coming to council meetings.

Treasurer Michael McGovern estimated later meeting starts could result in staffing costs of anywhere from $10,500 to $21,000 for overtime (depending on which staff members were required at meetings and for how long.) He said current costs are in the $4,000 - $9,200 range.

But in the end, it mattered naught as the measure was defeated 5-4.

For the record, voting for changing meeting times were: Councillor Cindy Kelsey, Brent Cameron, Nicki Gowdy and Elwin Burke.