A Heritage Committee for South Frontenac?

Wilma Kenny | Apr 27, 2017

In response to a request from Council, the recently-arrived Manager of Development Services, Forbes Symon, presented an outline of some of the purposes of a heritage committee, and the process by which one could be created.

There is a definite community interest in the heritage of the Township: both the Portland District and Area Heritage Society and the Bedford District Historical Society are well established groups. Portland created and operates the South Frontenac Museum, and Bedford has a Research Centre on Westport Road.

Five heritage properties were designated by the former Portland Township.

Council has three options: Maintain status quo, expand the mandates of the current heritage societies, or create an new Heritage Committee.

Should Council choose to create a Heritage Committee they would then, under the act, be required to consult with them on an advisory basis when designating heritage properties or dealing with alterations or demolition of these properties. A committee could initiate programs such as new interpretive plaques of heritage locations and features, and assist Council in the research, education, promotion and celebration of the heritage of the community. “It is commonly held that promotion of a community’s heritage contributes to a sense of place and distinctiveness, enhances the overall attraction of a community as a place to live and visit and is a positive influence on the local economy,” said Symon.

In the discussion that followed, there were concerns about the possibility of historical designations becoming ‘heavy-handed’ and restrictive: Symon said this need not be the case: there are many possible levels of designation to choose from, and a committee would need to do research and provide community information first. Mayor Vandewal spoke of the archival material both in the Township Hall and private collections that could soon be lost, if nothing was done to preserve it. There seemed to be general agreement that a Heritage Committee would be beneficial: this will go to Council to be formalized with a by-law.

Littering and Weekly Newspapers/Flyers
Spring’s here, and with it comes an accumulation of a winter’s worth of roadside litter. Council members brought horror stories of piles of plastic-clad weekly newspapers and flyers to the last COW meeting, asking Symon to look into the problem. After talking with by-law enforcement (distribution of weekly newspapers/flyers is a legal practise under the right to advertise) and distribution managers with Metroland, distributors of the Frontenac Gazette, Symon outlined the company’s policies and practices. Metroland has a detailed code of conduct designed to minimize littering problems, including a policy of sending a cleanup crew out to deal with reports of litter.

In spite of this, Mayor Vandewal and Councillor Barr both gave several examples of papers piling up in ditches and cottage driveways. Symon agreed to further discuss specifics of the problem with Metroland, and suggested that anyone with complaints should be encouraged to phone Metroland directly. However, his report gave no number, and tonight’s attempts to contact the distribution company on the Kingston area part of the website got no further than the “click here” button re delivery issues.

Symon’s report also said, “It is worth noting that the Frontenac News weekly newspaper has a different distribution system and uses Canada Post to deliver their product as mail…copies of the newspaper can also be picked up at various community retail stores.”

Road Name to Honour Memory of Bill Robinson
Council agreed unanimously with the Public Works Department’s proposal to name a newly-created road in Harrowsmith in honour of long-time Portland district Councillor Bill Robinson. The road is part of the reconfiguration of the awkward and dangerous mid-village intersection, a project Robinson was much in favour of. Planner Mills recommended Council set the naming process in motion by holding the required public meeting.

Shooting Range: Buck Bay Road
In December, Mr Adam Rayner came to Council with concerns about a neighbour who operates a shooting range on his abutting property. Mills’ report reveals that this range has been endorsed by previous Councils, following complaints from Rayner, as far back as 1994 and most recently in 2007. Representatives of the Chief Firearms Officer say they have been on the site many times: they have to attend the site before each two-year renewal, and have consistently found the range is fully compliant with the Firearms Act and Regulations. Council agreed with Mayor Vandewal’s opinion that there was little more they could do to resolve what was apparently a long-standing quarrel between neighbours.