North Frontenac Council – July 17

Craig Bakay | Jul 22, 2020

North Frontenac Township Council is considering more in person events, including its Aug. 14 Council meeting and a public meeting to get feedback on reducing the number of Wards to two from three and a corresponding drop in the size of Council to five from seven, following Friday’s online Council meeting.

CAO Cheryl Robson said that they would set up such a Council meeting so that those Councillors and/or members of the public and staff who wished to attend electronically could still do so.

“We measured the Council Chambers and calculate that we can have eight people in here and still maintain social distancing,” she said. “You’d still have to wear a mask coming into the chambers and leaving but once we’re in here you can take off your mask.”

Coun. Vern Hermer disagreed with the mask removal concept saying that you still have to wear a face covering inside public spaces.

Robson replied that they’ve been requiring masks only for the areas where business is done such as the front desk but “you can still wear a mask if you want to.”

Coun. Fred Perry indicated he’d likely continue to attend Council meetings over the phone.

As for the public meeting regarding the reduction of Council, the Township is looking at holding it at Clar-Mill Hall now that the limit for indoor gatherings has been raised by the Province to 50 people.

Mayor Ron Higgins wanted to hold the meeting Aug. 7 but several councillors disagreed, saying it wasn’t enough time for residents to prepare.

“This is an important topic and I’d like to give people ample time to prepare,” said Coun. Fred Fowler. “I suggest September or October.

“This isn’t something you just want to ram through.”

“And I really don’t agree with a virtual meeting for this topic,” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin.

There are still some details to be worked out for both meetings but Aug. 29 is likely for the Council size public meeting.

Both will be posted on the Township website.

Affordable senior’s housing project

Ken Foulds of Re/fact Consulting updated Council on the proposed senior housing project, saying that the Township now has to decide just how involved it wants to be in terms of construction and operation.

“Council has expressed interest in pursuing a partner, either community or private,” he said. “You now have to decide what incentives you can provide which could be land fee waivers and/or tax relief.

“You have also expressed interest in maintaining long-term affordability for residents.”

Foulds recommended issuing a request for proposal saying “you might get some interesting ones.”

The ball field in Cloyne has been mentioned as a probable location and while the RFP would likely cite October as a start date, the spring might be a more realistic time for a construction start.

Ardoch Lake Condominium

Planner Megan Reuckwald presented Council with a revised plan for the proposed Ardoch Lake Condominium Development.

The original plan called for 28 waterfront units, 17 inland with three internal roads. That’s been changed to 17 waterfront units, and six inland with two internal roads and a community dock.

She said there is an online meeting scheduled for July 22 to get public input and details are on the Frontenac County website.

This will be one the few opportunities to have the public give their views and it’s important to note that there are no third-party appeals allowed (ie public) for a condominium Zoning Bylaw amendment.

$750 advertising grant

Council approved a $750 advertising grant to the North Frontenac Backroads studio tour. The tour still may not happen because of covid-19 but organizers said they need to begin advertising now and as such the $750 won’t be refundable even if the tour is cancelled.

Perry set to party

Coun. Fred Perry was granted an exemption from the Township noise bylaw to allow music until midnight for a wedding on his property. Perry said they’ve hired a DJ for the event and all of his neighbours have been informed and voiced no objections.

Of course the motion did prompt some remarks from his Council colleagues such as “you party animal” from Coun. John Inglis and “if it were my party, it’d be 2 a.m., not 12” from Mayor Ron Higgins.

Greater Madawaska says no

The Municipality of Greater Madawaska has turned down North Frontenac’s request to do winter maintenance on Norcan Lake Lane, leaving north to have to make rather lengthy trips there for snow removal and such.

“It is disappointing but I understand their position,” said Public Works Manager Darwyn Sproule. “And we do have an otherwise good relationship with them (including a new agreement on fire services) that we don’t want to jeopardize.”

“It’s quite disappointing Madawaska isn’t interested,” said Coun. John Inglis. “It’s going to be very expensive for us but it’s something we have to do.”