w | May 04, 2016


by Wilma Kenny

Request for Road Closure, Storrington

Planner Mills called a public meeting to consider a request by Mr Ulrich of Opinicon Road, who has asked to buy a portion of public road allowance that runs through his property to the shore of Upper Rock Lake, in Storrington. This proposal came before Council March 2015, at which time Council seemed favourable to the closure, because the road allowance falls over a steep cliff at the shoreline. Ulrich was asked to have the property surveyed, which he did (date of survey not stated.)

The survey showed a portion of the road allowance extended further along the shoreline onto the neighbouring lot to the south. The neighbouring owner has expressed interest in purchasing this remnant.

Planner Mills in his report to Council, recommends no decision be made until the survey is revised so the whole road allowance can be shown. The two property owners would need to come to an agreement and submit a new plan, before a road-closing by-law could be considered.

Mr Ulrick’s lawyer Peter Radley spoke, saying it was unfair to drag the decision out any longer: he had spoken to the other property owner’s lawyer more than a year ago, and had asked if they could work together, but nothing further had happened. “Surely you don’t want to see an 80-year old man cry?” he asked. “I can’t think we’ll push you that far,” responded Mayor Vandewal.

Councillor Sleeth said, “It behooves us to move forward.” The matter is to come before Council May 17.

Supporting Local Businesses

In response to a recent situation where a local supplier lost a contract with the Township due to a miscommunication, Councillor Schjerning had proposed a motion which would give preference to bids and tenders submitted by local businesses. The Township solicitor was quick to say that this would be a bad idea, not in keeping with best practice. However, the Corporate Services Committee made two recommendations: that the staff hold an annual education session for local businesses on the Township’s procurement process, and that the Township website develop a procurement newsfeed where vendors could subscribe for notices of upcoming opportunities. Council adopted the recommendations.

Conduct of Public Meetings

Council agreed with CAO Orr’s report on appropriate procedure at public meetings, which in summary, states: “The intent of the public meeting is to gather comment, not resolve the issues, nor to have a debate. The debate comes later, when Council is asked to recommend draft plan conditions.”

Spring Roads

Public Works Manager Segsworth requested and got approval for an additional amount up to $25,000 from the working fund reserve for pulverizing various sections of Township roads that cannot be effectively patched any longer. Three sections considered to be beyond repair are: Randy Clark Road west from Battersea for 1.5 km, York Road, and Buck Bay Road 300 m north of Westport Road to White Lake Road. These will be maintained a loose top roads until they are reconstructed.

NF Resolution Not Endorsed

Council chose not to support North Frontenac’s resolution re the review of the RFP process for the award of renewable energy contracts.

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