Central Frontenac Council - Mar 13/12

Mar 15, 2012

Swapping bags tags for clear bags -

Central Frontenac Council had announced as part of its new waste management strategy that as of March 31, 2012 the township would no longer be accepting the old bag tags, but only clear bags at its waste sites. Mike Wise, Secretary-Treasurer of the Blue Heron Ridge Road Association of Arden, made a presentation to council about the unfairness of council not giving refunds for unused bag tags. Following his presentation council decided to revisit the new clear bag by-law and after much discussion passed a motion allowing individual households to exchange up to a maximum of $20 worth of numbered bag tags for clear township bags up until September 30, 2012. Exchanges can be made at the township office only and not at waste disposal sites.

Property Standards

Jeremy Neven, the out-going chief building official with Central Frontenac, presented a report to council regarding public input from two public meetings addressing property standards and the results of a public survey regarding the topic. Of the 66 respondents to the survey, roughly 50% wanted to keep the safe Property Standards by-law that is currently in place; 25% wanted to see it revised and another 25% wanted to see a new property standards by-law put in place. Councilor Norm Gunstensperger pointed out that 99% of residents did not fill out a survey or respond to the online survey, thereby showing that they are satisfied with what is currently in place. Neven recommended that council wait until later in the summer to allow seasonal residents to respond. After further discussion council passed a motion directing staff to have further public consultations in the spring and summer months, allowing seasonal residents to weigh in on the issue, and to report back to council.

Proposed Multi-Use Center in Sharbot Lake

On March 13 council announced the approval of two grants of $15,000 each, one from the County of Frontenac and one from the Community Futures Development Corporation, which will enable a preliminary design and feasibility study to proceed for a proposed Multi-Use Cultural Center in Sharbot Lake. The proposed location is the intersection of the K&P and Trans-Canada trails in the village. Of the eight firms who responded to a request for proposal for the study, Basterfield and Associates of Peterborough has been awarded the work at a cost of $29,800. The study should be completed in four months time.

Change to Employee Benefits

Council passed a motion switching their employee benefits provider to Standard Life. CAO Shawn Trépanier said the switch will provide staff with improved healthcare, drug care, dental, short term and long term disability benefits at reduced cost. The motion enables staff to review the change after a year.

Public Works Activity report

Public Works Manager Mike Richardson reported to council that an RFP has been sent out to suppliers for a tandem snow plow truck and that advertisements for tenders for the Crow Lake Bridge and two for the Arden Road will go out in the next upcoming weeks. Work is also being done to update the speed limit by-law and it will be completed this summer.

Staff have also prepared fliers updating ratepayers on the new recycling guidelines, which will be sent out in the local paper. Members of council also suggested sending them out with the second tax notices to residents so that seasonal residents in the area can be made aware of the updates.

Staff are also working with the county to coordinate a comparable training level and awareness of health and safety requirements across the four townships.