Central Frontenac Council begins meeting in person again

Craig Bakay | Mar 30, 2022

“Welcome back after two long years,” Mayor Frances Smith told Central Frontenac Council in her opening remarks March 22 as they assembled in Oso Hall for the first time since the Covid pandemic reduced all municipal gatherings to Zoom meetings and Youtube entries. “The internet didn’t always co-operate but we got through.”

The meeting was still held electronically with a feed to Youtube but all members of Council except Cindy Kelsey were in attendance as were key staff members.

The wide-angle shot left something to be desired but as long as Council members remembered to turn on their mikes, you could tell who was speaking.

The audio itself sounded like they were recording in a barn but that’s unlikely to change as echo-proofing a room that large wouldn’t be practical or economically desirable.

Remuneration

Mayor Frances Smith cost Central Frontenac taxpayers $27229 in remuneration, including a $1,200 expense allowance, plus $1,725 in per diems and $475 in mileage for 2021.

Dep. Mayor Nicki Gowdy received $19,885.

Coun. Tom Dewey received $17,702. plus $1,500 in per diems and $924 in mileage.

Coun. Cindy Kelsey received $17,702 plus $658.08 in per diems.

Coun. Victor Heese received $17,702 $1,050 in per diem plus $410.30 in mileage plus $910 per diems and $372 mileage for Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.

Coun, William MacDonald received $17,702.

Coun. Sherry Whan received $15,702

Coun. Brent Cameron received $17,702

The late Coun. Elwin Burke received $11,339 plus $73.12 in per diem and $99.44 in mileage for Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority

Coun. Phillip Smith received $4,473.68 plus $315 in per diem for Quinte Conservation Authority.

Expense allowance is to cover office supplies, internet and telephone.

Budget approved

Council approved and adopted the 2022 budget.

Fire Chief Chris McDonough said a leaky roof at the Oso Fire Hall has been a “challenge” to the budget but much of the problem has been due to the solar panels and he believes insurance will help out there.

“I spoke to the adjustor and they will pay to take them (solar panels) off and that would cost $30,000,” je said. “Council will have to look at if we want to keep them.”

Delegation of Authority

Planning manager Sonya Bolton told Council that she is looking at bringing forth some suggestions of opportunities to delegate authority for certain types of planning applications to staff, which would lessen the agendas of the Committee of Adjustment and streamline the approval process for applicants. The new processes are being made available through changes to the Planning Act through Bill 123 and Bill 276.

Tiny Hearts

Coun. Brent Cameron spoke in favour of placing an ad in CHEO’s Tiny Hearts Magazine at a cost of $295 plus HST.

“I’m the parent of a child who received life-saving surgery at CHEO,” he said. “There are a lot of families in the area who have benefited from CHEO.

Council passed the motion.

Spring Road work

Public Works Manager Tyson Myers reported that crews are starting and preparing for steaming culverts, patching potholes, replacing road signs, ice-blading roads as temperatures increase, plowing back banks and winging snow down to dry roads faster and fixing spring washouts and shoulders as water starts running.

He said graders and backhoes will be noticed fixing bad spots and sections of roads but entire roads will not be graded until the frost is gone and the road is dry.

He said in the following weeks, tenders will be issued for Wilkinson Road Resurfacing, Zealand Road pulverizing and Crow Lake Road resurfacing.