Wilma Kenny | Jan 26, 2012


MOE pressing South Frontenac over Portland dump

In response to the Ministry of Environment’s request for an action plan addressing leachate from the Portland Waste site, Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth wrote to the ministry in December. In his letter, he said that the Township was in the process of developing an action plan to address the impacts of leachate on the surrounding surface water.

Segsworth offered to submit this plan by April 30.

This did not wash with the Ministry however.

In an e-mail response received Jan 23, the MOE indicated that this would not be acceptable; they want a plan by the end of January. At a meeting on Tuesday night, council concurred with Segsworth’s decision to ask for a meeting with ministry representatives to clarify exactly what they are asking for.

In a brief interview, Segsworth emphasized the importance of maintaining the Portland waste site, and to work with the MOE to do this in an acceptable, sustainable manner. “What’s better: to monitor and manage our sites so that there is no contamination outside the site’s boundaries, or to ship our waste down the road, where it becomes someone else’s problem?”

“Although there are impacts to surface water quality within the wetland that falls within the boundaries of the site, many years of monitoring have demonstrated that the provincial water standards have consistently been met downstream at the property boundary before entering the Cameron Creek Swamp,” Segsworth said.

He added that the Ministry has recently amended the Certificate of Agreement to require that standards be met at the toe of the slope within the dump site, not, as previously, at the boundary of the approved waste site.

Sydenham Water Litigation Settled

Council passed a resolution to ratify the terms of settlement regarding litigation with the Engineering company that designed and oversaw the construction of the Sydenham water system. The original water purification system was designed to use only chlorine, which in combination with the high levels of organic matter, formed an unacceptable level of trihalomethanes.

A costly upgrade was required in order to achieve the present system, which uses a much lower amount of chlorine, in a process called chloramination and is combined with carbon filtering to deliver completely safe drinking water.

CAO Orr would only say that they had “arrived at a mutually agreed cash settlement that both parties were satisfied with.”

Community Caring to move into Princess Anne Building

Community Caring is a registered charity that collects and sells used clothing, donating all proceeds to families in need and a number of community organizations. For many years, it has rented the old schoolhouse in Hartington from the Township. They have recently negotiated with the Township to move into the neighboring Princess Anne Building.

To address insurance issues, the group will function as a committee of council, and be covered by the township’s insurance.

Councilor Vandewal said that although he fully supports this plan, he feels it’s time for the township to develop standardized guidelines for the increasing number of council committees. The matter has been referred to the Corporate Services Committee for recommendations.

Revision to Private Lane Upgrading Program

At last week’s COW meeting, Stephan Monty, resident living on Osbourne Lane had asked for a reconsideration of the amount of assistance offered by the township for the upgrading done on his lane. Although granular/gravel material is held to be maintenance, and therefore ineligible for the subsidy, Monty argued that a large portion of the gravel applied to Osbourne Lane had been used as road base material, and should be subsidized.

Public Works Manager Segsworth that he had reviewed the program in the light of this argument, and was recommending Council approve greater subsidies to six of the 2011 lane upgrades, including Osbourne, saying, “although it is not the way the Township builds roads, it could be argued that 5/8” granular material can be used as road base.” The revised 2011 total subsidy ($34,409) still falls well under the amount budgeted ($40,000).

Constituency Days: Coming Soon to a Hall Near You?

In order to “enhance Taxpayer communication and education,” Council has agreed to support members of Council in holding an annual Constituency Day, if they choose. Council members will be reimbursed for expenses (refreshments, room rentals, etc) to a maximum of $100/year, but only for the first three years of Council’s terms, and not in the final year of Council’s mandate.

Motto Contest

Council is launching a motto contest (look for the ad on page 9). The Township is in the process of having a Coat of Arms developed, and they need a motto, to be included as part of the design. It should be a short (25 characters or less) descriptive or inspirational saying. Deadline is March 1st, and there will be a $100 prize for the one chosen

 

 

Support local
independant journalism by becoming a patron of the Frontenac News.