| Jun 05, 2013


Tinlin resigns South Frontenac Council

by Jeff Green

Citing personal family reasons, first-term Bedford District Councilor Mark Tinlin has resigned from South Frontenac Council, effective June 1.

Tinlin informed Council at an in camera session that was held after their regular Committee of the Whole meeting on May 28.

“My wife Beverly and I are relocating our home out of the municipality of South Frontenac. I am deeply proud and thankful to have been given the opportunity to serve the residents of Bedford District and take this opportunity to wish my Council colleagues continued success and best wishes for the future,” Tinlin is quoted as saying in a township press release that came out on May 29.

“Mayor Davison responded offering his sincere appreciation on behalf of Council. He extended best wishes to both Mark and Beverly in the years ahead,” the release concluded.

The News contacted Mark Tinlin over the weekend from his new home in London.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my time on Council. I looked forward to going to the meetings. I had been involved in federal and provincial politics on the administrative side of things, but there was a lot to learn about how a rural township works,” he said.

He added that he feels the township is blessed with exceptional senior level staff and an excellent road crew.

As far as what has been accomplished during the 2½ years he has served on Council, the first point Mark Tinlin made was that, “In the opinion of some long-serving councilors there has never been a South Frontenac Council that has gelled together like this one has, and I hope that I have helped out with that. We took a pretty businesslike approach, streamlined our committee structure, and council meetings have become quite short and efficient.”

In his own Bedford district, Tinlin is particularly pleased that Council has decided to make an investment in the Bedford Hall, to bring it up to a better standard.

He is also pleased that Council has agreed to an external review of council members' pay. A citizens’ committee that is being constituted this spring will look at the salaries and make a recommendation to Council. On the other hand he said he was disappointed when Council decided not to review its own composition, preferring to leave the status quo in place.

“I thought there might be at least an opportunity to have a debate about the number of councilors, and so forth,” he said.

And then there is the coat of arms, which is something that he brought forward to Council.

“That was something that I wanted to see the township have, and I am happy that the coat of arms has just arrived, and it will be framed and displayed in a public area.”

Tinlin hopes that the township will invest in a larger version of the coat of arms to hang on the wall behind the mayor in the council chambers.

At their Council meeting this week, Council considered how to replace Mark Tinlin.

The municipal act gave them quite a bit of leeway. Council decided to go back to the election results from 2010, when Tinlin was elected along with Del Stowe to represent Bedford. The third candidate from Bedford in that election was Pat Barr.

Barr was in attendance at the meeting, having received a call about Council’s likely intentions. Council decided to offer the position, and after the meeting Mayor Davison did just that. Her appointment will be formalised at the next Council meeting.

Insurance Claim

by Wilma Kenny

On May 10, several pieces of equipment valued in excess of $14,000 were stolen from the Stagecoach Fire Hall. Last meeting, Councillor Vandewal brought a notice of motion recommending staff not pursue an insurance claim for the loss, because the deductible for such a claim is $10,000, and Vandewal suggested the $4,000 insurance they would receive might well lead to a greater overall loss in terms of increased rates. After a brief discussion, the majority agreed to drop the claim: Councillor McDougal and Mayor Davison opposed the decision.

Insurance RFP

Treasurer Fragnito reported on the proposals received in response to an RFP for general insurance and risk management services: the proposal from the existing provider arrived late and was returned unopened, while the remaining three were difficult to compare: none provided identical coverages or met the Township’s exact requirements. Fragnito recommended the bid from BFL Canada for $287,973 be accepted for one year, with an option to extend it on a yearly basis until 2016, depending on price stability and satisfactory service, for its offer came closest to meeting the township’s requirements. Council agreed: several commented that they were prepared to trust their staff’s expertise.

County Warden’s Term of Appointment

Council unanimously endorsed the new County by-law, establishing a one-year term of office for the head of County Council, to begin after the next election. “This wouldn’t be necessary if we had honourable people serving on County Council,” commented Davison.

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