Back to HomeFeature Article - March 19, 2009 North Frontenac Council – Mar 12/09by Jeff Green

Remember when summer ended on Labour Day?

The possibility that the Limestone District School Board will call students back to class before Labour Day this year has tourist operators nervous.

Steve Smart, of Smart's Marina on Mazinaw Lake north of Cloyne, brought his concerns forward to a meeting of North Frontenac Council last week, after hearing that one eastern Ontario school board has decided to start their school year before Labour Day this coming fall.

“We have summer students who work for us every year, and we depend on them working at least part way through labour day weekend. That won't happen if school starts the week before. It will also change peoples' vacation plans. As a community, we stand to lose one of the top weekends of the year,” Smart said. “It is something that as a business community we need to address.”

The Trillium Lakeland School Board in Haliburton and Muskoka has decided to begin classes on September 1st (the Tuesday before Labour Day) and give students a 4 day Labour day weekend by closing on Friday and Monday.

While none of the Boards in our region have decided, the Prince Edward-Hastings District School Board will be considering a staff recommendation to use the same model as Trillium Lakeland at their next meeting, which is scheduled for March 23rd.

If Prince Edwards Hastings' Board accepts the recommendation, it could have implications for the Limestone and Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic Boards because the three share a bussing service, Tri-Board transportation and have always started school on the same day, the Tuesday after Labour Day, since Tri-Board Transportation was set up a number of years ago.

The motivation to break with tradition and start school before Labour Day comes because Labour Day falls on September 7 this year, making it a stretch for Boards to fit in the requisite 194 day schedule, excluding professional days and holidays, before the end of June 2010.

While starting school before Labour Day is not unusual in other provinces, it has never been done in Ontario.

Business meetings – Deputy Mayor Jim Beam reported to Council that three meetings have taken place, in different locations throughout the township, with members of the business community. The intention behind the informal meetings has been to work towards a business group, or chamber of commerce, which can work on economic development in the township and vicinity.

“We are still getting our feet wet,” said Jim Beam, “still trying to get people involved.”

Councillor Fred Perry, who has been working with Jim Beam on economic development, said “new people have been coming to every meeting, although some have dropped out, but we are building awareness I think.

The concern was raised, by Steve Smart that, “some businesses said they do not want to get too heavily involved because it is so much associated with Council. We want it to be a business group that works closely with Council. People may not want to come out and share their opinion with Council at present.”

Jim Beam said that although Fred Perry and himself have chaired the meetings this far it is only with a view to getting the group started.

“We wanted to make it perfectly clear that this is not a Council driven thing; we want to be a partner, but we do not want to be seen as driving this forward.”

Mayor Maguire said he is very encouraged that the lead of this fledgling business group is changing hands.

After the meeting Jim Beam said he did not see this as an exclusively North Frontenac based venture.

“Business does not draw lines on Highway 41, or 7, or 509. I see this as a more regional thing.”

The next meeting is scheduled for April 14 at 9am (see Ompah column for more details)

Fan to be replaced at Clar/Mil Hall - Ed Schlievert appeared before Council on behalf of the Clarendon and Miller Volunteers to talk about a problem with the fan in the kitchen at the Clar/Mil Hall.

“The fan that is there was meant for a bathroom. It vents into the attic and it is clogged. So, when there is a dinner at the hall the kitchen gets filled with smoke.”

While it would cost thousands for a proper kitchen fan and venting system, the volunteers felt that simply by fitting the kitchen with a vent that allows air to flow outside the problem will be alleviated. They made a request for $700 plus tax for a vent, and Shlievert said there were volunteers that were willing to put the vent in.

“You probably know that Council is considering what to do with the Hall,” Mayor Maguire said.

“Drop a match,” Shlievert suggested in jest. “We took a wild guess and figured it would be 5 or more years before a new hall is built.”

“I think $700 for this is not out of line,” said Councillor Wayne Good.

“We said we wouldn't do anything to the hall until we made long term decisions, except for health and safety issues,” said Councillor Fred Perry.

“At the pancake breakfast a couple of weeks ago you couldn't breathe in there,” said Shlievert.

“So, it's a health and safety issue. I have no problem with that,” said Perry.

The $700 expenditure was approved.

Budget meeting delayed, set for next week – Council has met several times to discuss the 2009 budget, and a session, to make some final decisions that had been set for March 11th was put off, due to illness, until next week. The budget will likely come to Council for approval in early April.

Back to HomeFeature Article - March 12, 2009 Central Frontenac Council - Mar 9/09By Jeff Green

CF bylaw to regulate open air burning

Central Frontenac Fire Chief Mark MacDonald brought forth a long-awaited outdoor burning bylaw, which he said he hoped to see in place before the burning season starts for 2009.

The bylaw comes about partly in response to concerns about burn barrels that were highlighted at a public meeting 18 months ago, and while the new bylaw does not outlaw “outdoor incinerators” as a class, it does ban both the construction and traditional uses of old-style burn barrels.

It defines “outdoor incinerators” as “a steel 'shipping style' barrel or similar sized non-combustible device ... There shall be a platform in the bottom of the barrel or firebox with the air inlets below the fire to supply adequate combustion and to aid in a more complete and clean burn”.

“Proper ventilation,” according to MacDonald, “makes all the difference between a clean burning device and one that produces the kinds of noxious gases that were expressed at the public meeting in 2007”.

A clause in the bylaw that prohibits certain materials from outdoor burning, whether in outdoor incinerators, burn piles, or campfires, will also have an impact on air quality.

“Only clean, dry, untreated wood, brush and leaves are to be burnt. Alternatives such as brushing and chipping should be considered before open air burning. Recyclable products such as paper and plastics shall not be burnt. Burning of refuse and synthetic products is strictly forbidden”.

In other jurisdictions, particularly Lennox and Addington County, burn barrels have been banned in recent years, and in a report that Mark MacDonald prepared after the public meeting in 2007, banning the barrels in Central Frontenac was proposed.

“People have legitimate concerns about the improper use of burn barrels,” MacDonald said, “but if they are properly constructed and used they are acceptable”. There is a link on the township website to a site that contains information about proper burn barrel construction and set up.

Another control on the use of burn barrels, particularly in hamlet settings, is a provision that says “burning is not permitted during high winds, or when smoke is a nuisance to neighbouring properties”.

Other outdoor burning issues are dealt with in the bylaw, including setback distances from buildings and property lines for different types of burning, but perhaps the most far-reaching clauses are the ones that deal with the consequences of contravening the new bylaw.

While the bylaw can be enforced by the township’s bylaw officer, who can lay charges, the township itself, through the fire departments, will be able to levy fines if they are called in to deal with complaints or fires that result from unsafe burning.

For example, if the township investigates a complaint where it is determined that “the party is burning outside of permitted times and/or does not have the appropriate permit to burn”, the fine for the first incident is $50. The second offence carries a $200 fine, and further incidents carry a fine of $350.

Councilors had several concerns, not so much with the intent of the bylaw as with the detail.

John Purdon pointed to several instances of unclear or inconsistent wording in the bylaw, and Norm Guntensperger was concerned that the clause about smoke being “a nuisance to neighbouring properties.”

“If someone says it's a nuisance do we simply take their word?” he asked.

“In this age of You Tube and cell phone cameras I expect we will have ample evidence of illegal burning. It's not the burning of clean, dry wood that generally concerns neighbours,” said Mark MacDonald.

Mayor Gutowski said she is “very pleased with the intent of the bylaw, and I look forward to a final version coming forward in a few weeks”. 

Mayor sceptical, but CF Council wants the scoop on septic reinspection

At this week's council meeting, during a debate over whether Central Frontenac should get more information about septic reinspection programs, Mayor Janet Gutowski said, “From what I know about the dollars, I don't think it's worth it”.

Gutowski added that she knows of one township that conducted 300 inspections at a cost of “over $300,000”, but because compliance with the program is voluntary, it was like preaching to the converted. “In that case they only found six systems that needed work and only two actual work orders came out of it,” she said.

Undaunted, Deputy Mayor Gary Smith proposed a motion that staff bring back a report, and it was supported by council.

At the urging of cottage associations, septic reinspection programs have been in place for several years in Tay Valley (200 per year), North Frontenac (100 per year) and South Frontenac.

Jamie Saunders, who works for Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, runs the reinspection programs in Tay Valley and North Frontenac. In his annual report to North Frontenac Council last month, he said that the program will cost in the “neighbourhood of $7,600 for 100 inspections this coming summer”.

Saunders said, “We obviously focus on waterfront properties, where the concern is over impacts to water quality on the lake. Working with cottagers and their associations over a few years, we have found that the program builds up the local knowledge of septic systems and how to maintain them. I've always held up North Frontenac as a successful reinspection program because of our relationship with cottage associations and the township”.

South Frontenac Township budgeted $13,000 for their septic re-inspection program in 2008. The program took place on four lakes, all of which are classed as trout sensitive lakes. The program has been approved for 2009.

Hazardous Waste Day – For those people who have a shed full of old paint cans, batteries, etc. but missed the hazardous waste day last year, mark Saturday, July 25 on your calendar. Central Frontenac has contracted with Drain-All to organize and execute a hazardous waste recycling day at an as yet to be determined location in the north end of the township.

The event will be costly to the township, but there will be no fee to residents who bring in waste for disposal.

Those who cannot wait for July 25 can purchase a pass for $25 + GST at the township office to dump up to 100kg at the Kingston recycling centre at 196 Lappan's Lane. This is down from $32 previously.

Governance changes – A report from Clerk Administrator John Duchene outlined three options for how council makes decisions. Option 1 was the status quo, where all decisions and debates are carried out at twice-monthly meetings, which generally run over three hours. Option 2 would involve establishing a Committee of the Whole - an extra meeting of the entire council once or twice a month to discuss a few issues in depth, with all decisions being made at the regular council meetings, which would still be held twice monthly. Option 3 involves the creation of various committees that would report to council.

John Duchene spoke about option 2, the Committee of the Whole system, which is in place in South Frontenac. “I have worked in an organization that works like this. The Committee of the Whole could meet in the afternoon, with council meeting in the evening after a dinner break. It allows for more debate,” he said.

It would also build in a new two-week delay before decisions are made because whatever goes forward to council from the Committee of the Whole would be held until the subsequent council meeting.

“This would give the public a chance to express their opinions on council’s direction before decisions are taken,” said Duchene.

“I kind of like it, personally,” said Councilor Norm Guntenperger.

“I don't see how meeting for an extra three hours or so every two weeks will be more efficient,” said a sceptical Councilor Philip Smith, “it might just be more meetings and more talk”.

With three councilors, Bob Harvey, Bill Snyder, and Frances Smith being absent from the meeting, the subject was deferred.

Mayor Gutowski added that Frontenac County governance will be the subject of the next Frontenac County meeting on March 19, at a meeting for members of all four township councils at the county offices in Glenburnie.

Trails – Councilor Gary Smith reported that he attended a meeting of the K&P trail committee, which is considering going forward with a vision statement for the trail later this spring.

“There are several options for use of the trail and the county has $250,000 set aside to put towards it,” Smith said. “Among the options are: a non-motorized trail; a multi-use trail that allows snowmobiles but not ATVs; a multi-use trail that allows ATVs as well as snowmobiles; a multi-use trail with a transition to a non-motorized trail either north of Verona or north of Harrowsmith; or a complete multi-use trail”.

Smith said the committee is looking to hold a public meeting in late April, adding that the thorny issue of the impacts on properties in the section of trail that is privately owned would have to be dealt with.

“The cost of six bridges that need to be rebuilt is also a problem,” he said.

“This leads to a fear that some constituents have told me about,” said Norm Guntensperger. “I know a resident who lives very near one of these bridges; there is a track 15 feet from his bedroom. He would be opposed to rebuilding the bridge and I would concur with him”.

February building report bucks international trend: Six building permits have been issued in Central Frontenac so far this year, for a construction value of $341,000. This compares favourably with 2008 (2 permits for $93,000) and 2007 (3 permits for $42,000). 

Back to HomeFeature Article - March 5, 2009 Addington Highlands CouncilBy Jeff Green

Monitoring of Kaladar Waste site –

“Here we have our favourite topic, it seems, the Kaladar Waste site,” said Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch, sitting in for Henry Hogg to chair this week’s Council meeting (March 2).

Council received a report from Quinte–Eco Consultants regarding leachate, groundwater, surface water and gas found in and around at the Kaladar waste site. The report was based on tests that were conducted in the spring, summer, and fall of 2008.

The test results showed there have been impacts on the groundwater in the vicinity of the site, such as increased ph levels, iron and manganese levels, etc. but “no health related parameters exceed the 'Ontario Drinking Water Standards'”.

The waste site is located near wetlands and therefore monitoring is necessary on a consistent basis. The report recommends that a monitoring and sampling program be continued in 2009, and this was accepted by Council.

“I don't think we have a choice,” said Councillor Eythel Grant.

The recommendations were accepted.

Rec. club has ambitious plans – As outlined in a letter to Council, the Flinton Recreation Club would like to enlarge the existing canteen on the grounds, a project that could include building a storage shed for a zamboni that they may be able to acquire. They are seeking council's “support and funding if necessary”. They hope to be able to get a grant from the Hydro Power Play Program to cover the expansion.

The second thing they want to do is put in a coverall for the outdoor rink. This is described in the letter as a “massive project” for which the club will need Council's “permission, guidance and financial support to obtain estimates, expertise, knowledgeable advice, etc. to move forward this project for our community.”

Club President Duane Thibault proposed to meet with Council to discuss the proposal.

Doctor recruitment ad – Ken Hook sent a letter to Council proposing that the township purchase an ad in the Bon Echo tabloid that is “presented each year to 180,000 visitors.”

Of those, a number might be health care professionals who might like to practice in the area if they knew an opportunity existed. The ad would direct readers to the Friends of Bon Echo web site, which would contain a link to the Addington Highlands Doctor Recruitment site.

Council agreed to purchase a 3” by 4” ad for $350.

Half loads on this Sunday – Anyone with major hauling to do should think about trucking this week, because half loads on township roads will be enforced as of Sunday, March 8th, said roads supervisor Royce Rosenblath.

This is consistent with previous years.

“The restrictions will be enforced whether the roads are frozen or not,” Rosenblath said.

Tower upgrades – A letter was received from the lawyers for Bell, Telus and Rogers, which said “one or more of them will be looking to improve the quality of their wireless service in this area within the next 12 months.”

The letter goes on to point out that communications towers are federally regulated and are not bound by municipal zoning laws.

It suggests that a protocol for a consultation process be followed in the mutual interest of providers and the township.

Council passed a resolution to adopt the process and appointed Reeve Hogg to be the township contact for it.

Flinton Bridge construction – Royce Rosenblath reported the Flinton bridge construction is now on track and will “hopefully be completed on time.”

Back to HomeFeature Article - March 5, 2009 South Frontenac CouncilBy Wilma Kenny

Sydenham Water Report

Kevin Riley of Utilities Kingston presented the 2008 annual Water Treatment Plant report to Council, and noted that it is available to the public at the Township offices, the water plant, and online at utilitieskingston.com. Of the 60 metals and chemicals for which the water is tested, only one exceeded the Maximum Acceptable Concentration (MAC). As earlier discussed in Council, this was the Trihalomethane level, which averaged out at 142 micrograms per litre. (The MAC is presently 100, though the Canadian level is expected to be brought down to the same level as the US: 80.) South Frontenac has retained the services of a qualified consultant to assist in the research and trial of alternative treatment options to reduce total Trihalomethanes. The report states that no attempt will be made to calculate the average water usage per person until all the village hook-ups are completed.

Council approved three community members for a Sydenham Water Advisory Committee, which will meet quarterly. The committee will consist of Kevin Riley, Councilors McPhail and Vandewal, village residents Janet Knights and Wilma Kenny, and township resident John Allen, former District Manager for the Ministry of the Environment. The Health Unit has asked to send an ‘observer’ to provide background information. Purpose of this group is to keep the village residents up to date on the status of the water system.

Lacey Lake Summer Camp/ Retreat/ Cultural Centre

Council gave final approval to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto to begin building a summer camp on a large piece of property just northeast of Perth Road Public School, just off the Walsh Road. The project had been on hold until a right-of-way access road was brought up to township standards. When completed, the camp will have the capacity to serve 200: it will operate in the summer only, though there will be year-round caretakers living on site.

Township ‘Housekeeping’

Council approved the annual/biennial bridge inspection, an upgrade to the office telephone system, purchase of a grader, and an agreement with the public health unit to continue with the septic tank re-inspection program in 2009.

Loughborough District Canada Day Committee

After 2008's successful return of Canada Day celebrations in Sydenham, the following were appointed to the 2009 committee: Brenda McPhail, John Trousdale, Sandra Sigsworth, Anne Barlow, Norm Irwin, Mark Alton, Susan Radford, Sharon Menard, Mike Howe, Sarah Jeffrey and Christine Stevens.

Back to HomeFeature Article - March 19, 2009 Addington Highlands Council – Mar 16/09by Jule Koch Brison

Wager’s Bridge - Five tenders were received for the replacement of Wager’s Bridge in Flinton, and under recommendation from Jewell Engineering, council accepted the lowest bid of $687,419, which was from Clearwater Structures Inc. The other tenders were from Louis Bray Construction ($806,700); All Services ($809,805); Crains’ Construction ($922,403); and Dalcon Enterprises ($979,320). The Clearwater bid comes in under budget, which had been set at $800,000. Reeve Henry Hogg commented, “Some other expenses will arise”.

Flinton Bridge - Construction on the Flinton bridge is well underway. A 100 ft. stone retaining wall for the bridge is being built now and should be completed by the beginning of April.

Rogers Cell Tower - Council discussed correspondence from Rogers Communications, which is set to build a tower on the Flinton Road. The tower will provide cellphone and high speed internet service. Construction is scheduled to be completed this spring.

The South East Local Health Integration Network will hold an Open House at the Flinton township hall on April 7 from noon to 1pm.

Bylaw amendments - Township CAO Jack Pauhl presented an amendment that would enshrine budget deliberations in the township’s procedural bylaw. “It will allow us to set the date ahead of time” he said. Council will pass the amendment at their next meeting.

Pauhl also presented a bylaw to adopt a policy on handling insurance claims, and a bylaw to set policy on unsolicited resumes.

The township will direct people to make claims to their own insurance companies and if they insist on making a claim to the township it must be in writing. The township will then forward the claim to their insurance company.

In deciding on the second bylaw, council voted to return unsolicited resumes to the sender.

Hazardous Waste - In 2008, only 9 ratepayers from Addington Highlands made use of the Household Hazardous Waste Program in the Town of Renfrew. Council discussed holding its own HHW Day but needs more information on the costs.

Building dept: 106 building permits were issued in 2008, for a total construction value of $3,183,574. However the Chief Building Official’s department operated at a loss, as its expenses were $75,763 whereas revenue from permits totalled $42,804.

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 19, 2009 Cake anyone?By Julie Druker

Mrs. Gilpin’s Junior and Senior kindergarten class at Prince Charles Public School 

In Verona, students at Prince Charles Public School, many dressed in red white and pink celebrated Valentine’s Day on Friday the 13th and for many it was an opportunity to satisfy their sweet tooths.

They spent part of the day hopefully ogling the over 80 Valentine’s Day cakes that filled the school’s library, each one unique in design and many of which students and their parents baked and donated to the school for the cake raffle fundraiser put on by the school’s parent council.

Parent Council chair Nicki Gowdy was thrilled with the entries, which were up over almost 50% from last year. She loves this particular annual event and admitted, “ I enjoy giving back but also seeing the kids’ smiles.“

Each unique, colorful and enticing, the entries included a garden cake, a lady bug cake, a NASCAR cake, a butterfly cake, and the ever popular giant jaw breaker cake. This year’s event raised over $450 and it is just one of many yearly fundraisers the council holds to raise funds for refurbishing school equipment for their gymnasium.

At the end of the day, over 80 lucky winners went home with a very sweet Valentine’s Day treat.

Also of note and ongoing for the entire month of February, students at the school have been acquiring red heart stickers for performing “random acts of kindness”. While there are no sweet rewards being offered to students for their kind actions, they are being given an opportunity to ponder the fact that there also exist “sweet” things outside of the realm of edible treats, which cannot be eaten, but can be wholly enjoyed.

Seems there is a nice balanced diet of sweets on offer to students at Prince Charles Public School for the month of February. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 26, 2009 North Frontenac Council - By Jeff Green

Gunsinger for Order of Ontario

North Frontenac Councillor Elaine Gunsinger was feeling a bit sheepish about putting a particular individual forward to answer a call from Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor David Onley for nominations to the Order of Ontario. But other members of North Frontenac staff and council assured her she was not contravening any conflict of interest guidelines by proposing that the township nominate Bernice Gunsinger, Elaine’s mother-in-law.

In fact, according to Clerk-Planning co-ordinator Brenda DeFosse, Bernice had been nominated in a previous year, but had not been named to the order at that time.

“There is nothing stopping us from nominating her again,” said Mayor Maguire, “she is certainly a top candidate.”

In the call for nominations, David Onley asked a question, “Do you know someone who deserves recognition for extraordinary achievements, whose superlative contributions have had an impact on their local community, the province, our country or beyond?

Bernice Gunsinger's “impact on the local community” can be measured in many ways after about 70 years of community volunteer efforts. Council is now holding their meetings in a modern, spacious room overlooking a gleaming fire hall, for which over $100,000 was raised by the Ladies Fire Auxiliary, or the “Fire Ladies” as they were known.

Bernice Gunsinger was the first fire lady. She called the first meeting, and got the ball rolling. Just as a building is built one brick at a time, the Fire Ladies raised $100,000 one square at a time, or one cup of coffee at a time. They raised $50 here, $100 there, at community breakfasts and teas over years, banking money slowly over time.

“She started a long, long time before the fire ladies,” Elaine said, “she's been doing the same thing with other groups for decades.”

Township staff will look into preparing the nomination papers, which are due on March 16.

Becoming Elektra ...fied - Frank Roy, from Elektra Observatories, made his first appearance before North Frontenac council. The non-profit organization hopes to build a state-of-the-art astronomical observatory at Mallory Hill, which is located at the western edge of the township on the border with Addington Highlands on the Buckshot Lake Road.

As Roy has stated in presentations to Frontenac County, Lennox and Addington County and to local MPP Randy Hiller and MP Scott Reid, the location was chosen because it has the darkest skies in southern Ontario.

The observatory, which is named the “One Metre Initiative” because of the characteristics of the electronic telescope the group intends to build, would be remotely controlled.

“In order to preserve the darkness of the night sky, which is of critical importance in the observatory, Elektra seeks to have new bylaws enacted,” Frank Roy said. “This will also help in establishing the area as an International Dark Sky Preserve as defined by the International Dark Sky Association.”

So, while Roy is pitching the project as a tourism promotion opportunity for North Frontenac, he is also asking that none of this tourist infrastructure be located in the immediate vicinity of Mallory Hill itself.

There is a precedent for this, according to Roy. At Mont Megantic, in Quebec, a provincial park has been established near an observatory, and $10 million in tourism dollars is generated at that site each year.

There is a potential connection to Bon Echo Park. If 20% per cent of Bon Echo's 200,000 annual visitors came and spent $25 each it would generate $1 million” Roy said. He envisions that a visitors’ centre could be located somewhere on Highway 41.

Steve Smart, owner of Smart's Marina on Mazinaw Lake, was at the meeting and said “I have trouble getting my head around how the visitors’ centre could be that far away from the observatory itself.”

Frank Roy suggested that his focus would be on the observatory but that he would be open to ideas from the townships, the county, the local business communities and even the provincial government to capitalize on the promotional opportunities offered by the project.

“The key in Quebec was the buy-in from the provincial government,” said North Frontenac Deputy Mayor Jim Beam.

Frank Roy will be making a presentation at Addington Highlands Council next week, and is hoping to meet soon with Leona Dombrowsky, the Ontario Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

He suggested that a steering committee be formed to consider the economic potential of the project from a regional angle, and proposed that a first meeting be held in the coming months, perhaps in Sharbot Lake.

Deputy Mayor Beam volunteered to represent the township to the committee. He has been involved in establishing a township business group in recent months.

“This is like something that has just fallen from the sky; in other words it’s an initiative we couldn't plan any better,” said Mayor Ron Maguire, promising the township’s co-operation in enacting necessary bylaws and working with Roy to develop the project.

The Elektra Observatory now has $26,000 in seed money funding, $14,000 from the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation, and $12,000 from the members of its board of directors. It has partnerships with three universities, but must raise $2 million from the philanthropic sector in order to come to fruition.

“We will be operational three years from receiving funding,” Frank Roy said.

Concerns over telephone service – Council received a letter from Catherine Tysick of Northern Frontenac Community Services. The letter expressed a concern that came to Tysick from the agency’s Seniors’ Advisory Committee about interruptions to phone service in the Ompah-Snow Road corridor.

“As you can imagine this is of great concern to seniors who may need to access emergency services but cannot. The frail elderly are particularly at risk,” the letter said.

The township is planning to put in an emergency phone at the ambulance station at Lavant Road, which would be operational when other phones are not, and will consider putting another one in at another location.

“I think we should communicate with Bell,” said Mayor Maguire

Hall rentals for not for profits - Land O'Lakes Community Services has requested that the township waive rental fees for a fundraising supper, and a seniors’ group made a similar request for their Tai Chi classes. Council did not agree to the requests, but the cost to non-profit groups for community halls is only $15 for four hours, and this information will be forwarded to the two organisations. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 26, 2009 Central Frontenac Council - Feb. 24/09By Jeff Green

Duchene hits the ground running 

The first item of business at a meeting of Central Frontenac Council on February 24 was approving the selection of John Duchene as Chief Administrative Officer.

Deputy Mayor Gary Smith, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Gutowski, said, “When John Duchene was here for a year and a half as acting clerk, he did an efficient job, and now that he is here full time he can do a lot more”.

“I had an interesting conversation with myself just before Christmas,” Duchene said before the meeting, describing how he decided to seek a job that he had left just four months earlier. He was hired on an interim basis when Heather Fox took a leave of absence two years ago and held the job until August, when he resigned. His replacement, Mark Hall, left the job after a few weeks and the job was advertised again. This time John Duchene applied for it.

As the meeting wore on it became clear that many of the issues that were being faced by the township five months ago are still on the table, and Duchene presented Council with a draft issues report along with the unfinished business report that Council looks at on a monthly basis.

“This is my list,” Duchene said of the issues report, “I have not consulted with staff yet, but these are issues that I recall, and it is sort of a work in progress. I want to establish a team approach for this with department heads taking ownership over their individual budgets”.

Members of Council said they liked the list, but that didn't stop them from suggesting other items.

“One issue that's not here is salt storage in Piccadilly,” said Councilor Bob Harvey, “I think there is a big liability there; it is not appropriate where it is now”.

“You don't think the salt storage facility has solved the problem?” asked Councilor Norm Guntensperger.

“No, it hasn't. We are still exposed. It shouldn't have been there in the first place, and it should be moved now,” said Harvey.

Guntensperger had an issue he wanted to see brought forward. “An upcoming issue is the tracking of quantities: salt, gravel, etc.. We don't have paper trails as to how this stuff is moving; there is a lot of estimation and trust of the contractors involved ... More or less, sorta kinda is not good enough when you are talking about millions of dollars, in my opinion.”

Guntensperger said the township might have to consider purchasing their own weigh scales even if it is an expensive proposition.

Tenders for buildings and grounds maintenance contracts -

Contracts for grass cutting, hall maintenance, etc. are all up for renewal next month. In a report from Ian Trickett, chief building official, the value of all the contracts that are up for renewal was listed at $43,550.

Included in the new contracts in Sharbot Lake, for example, will be the grounds around the medical centre and the public washroom at the beach. The township is also now responsible for grass cutting and garbage pickup at the roadside park on Road 38 in Godfrey, grass cutting at the Crow Lake schoolhouse, and grass cutting at one of the fire halls.

The tender will recognise three categories of maintenance: grounds maintenance, custodial services, and for the first time, repair and maintenance services. In terms of repair and maintenance the township will be looking to find one or more general contractors who will be available for carpentry, electrical, or plumbing work at a fixed hour rate.

The tenders are to be granted by the end of March and will cover a three-year time frame, April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2012.

Township and Personal Vehicles policy - A proposed township and personal vehicles policy was approved by Council. The policy includes the following provision: “The use of a vehicle for private or personal reasons is prohibited. In particular, no vehicle may be taken home with an employee overnight or on weekends. A vehicle shall always be used strictly for Council business, unless expressly authorised to do differently by a resolution of Council. If any employee fails to observe this policy, disciplinary action will be taken.”

Art show – A request by the Land O’Lakes Artisan Guild (LOLAG) for permission to use the Sharbot Lake beach and Oso Hall for their inaugural “Art by the Beach” show was accepted by Council, although a request for free rental of the hall was not. The show, which will run on Saturday & Sunday, August 1 & 2, will feature the works of LOLAG members and also art students from Sharbot Lake High School.

Wedding at Long Lake – Councilor John Purdon had a few personal concerns about a request by Cristin Clark to use the beach at Long Lake for her wedding ceremony on July 11, with about 30 guests.

“It is a small beach,” said Councilor Purdon, “and if it is nice weather people will be swimming. It's not the place where I would think it is suitable to hold a wedding, with children shrieking and all that, but I don’t really have an objection to it; it's just my opinion”.

“You don't want to stand in the way of love, in other words,” said Deputy Mayor Smith.

Council granted permission for the ceremony to take place at Long Lake beach. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 12, 2009 Central Frontenac Council - Feb. 9/09By Jeff Green

Old Road Battles Die Hard

A discussion at Council over a five-year road capital investment plan has led to the calling of a public meeting. But not before councillors had a chance to revisit some old sore spots.

The capital plan, brought forward by Public Works Manager John Simcock, is based on an extensive analysis of the current state of the township’s roads. It placed roads into categories (A, B, C, D) based on traffic counts and the number of properties located on the roads. The state of repair of the roads was then determined and a priority for repair list created.

The plan sets out three options for dealing with needed investments: a basic option (cost - $920,000 per year for five years), a sustaining level (cost 1.4 million per year) and an improving level ($2.1 million per year).

Mayor Gutowski pointed out that all of these figures do not include the normal maintenance of township roads.

“Capital investment is about improvement,” Gutowski said. “It is not about basic maintenance. There is a dedicated supervisor with a crew that will be maintaining the roads: ditching, grading, culvert replacement etc. This is over and above that.”

“It is a way to fix roads, in segments. It gives options, and it eliminates the political sense, in that it gives you a whole set of roads data to work with, instead of just debating each year whose roads' turn it is to be done,” said John Simcock.

But when Gutowski asked Council to have a look at the plan, the old debates resurfaced.

“I think the Oak Flats road should be rated as a B road and not a C road,” said Councilor Bill Snyder.

“How many thousands have we spent on the Oak Flats road?” asked Councilor Frances Smith.

“How much did we spend on the Zealand Road, the Fall River Road, 509?” Snyder shot back. “Why are you picking on my road?”

Councilor John Purdon expressed the concern that the traffic counts used to categorize roads may not be based on enough information.

“The information we have used has been gathered over time, but there is tweaking to be done. The point is it provides data,” Simcock said putting his hand on the document. “If you want to disregard the data and fight over whose road is more important, you can do that,” he said, pushing the document across the table.

Councilors Gary Smith and John Purdon then expressed support for the plan. “There are a lot of people who have been saying we need a road plan. Here it is,” Smith said.

A public meeting to discuss the plan will be scheduled for March 4, at either the Kennebec or the Olden Hall.

As it stands now, under the basic option, work would be done on Garret and Elizabeth Streets in Sharbot Lake this year, as well as on the Mountain Grove Road. Work is also earmarked for sections of 15 gravel roads within the township, including Queen, Legion, Bridge, Piccadilly, Clement, Wagner, Cannon, Price, Big Gull, St. Georges Lake, Bakers Valley, Village Woods, Shibley, Thompson and Arena Boundary.

Gravel tender – In approving the terms of the township’s gravel tender for 2009, Council received a primer from quality control technologist Kathy Chevrier on the specifications for the kinds of gravel the township needs, and works manager Simcock pointed out some of the provincially mandated standards gravel crushers must adhere to. The crushing contract will include trucking to various township sites as well.

Councilors Purdon, Guntensperger and Gary Smith all asked Simcock if local contractors would have an opportunity to bid on the contract.

“Certainly, but anyone who wants to bid will have to satisfy the legal requirements. It's the law after all,” Simcock replied.

Two local contractors who were present at the meeting, expressed a concern that if the specific trucking requirements were not included in the tender, it would be difficult for them to calculate costs.

No parking changes on Elizabeth Street for now – Don Nielsen, the Executive Director of Community Living – North Frontenac appeared before Council in response to a letter from Duncan McGregor, a resident on Elizabeth Street in Sharbot Lake, concerning congestion and visibility problems on or around the intersection of Elizabeth and Garret streets during business hours. The Community Living office is located in the vicinity and Nielsen argued that the bylaw permitting his staff five spots at the side of the road should not be changed because they are not the cause of the problem, which he attributed to snow build up and the location of a tree.

Public Works Manager Simcock said he went to the location during a busy winter day, and found that there is indeed a problem, both in terms of visibility and congestion. He said Council could consider banning parking on Elizabeth Street next to the Community Living Building.

Council did not take this action, citing difficulties enforcing a no parking zone, and saying that the entire parking and congestion issue in Sharbot Lake needs to be looked at.

No action will be taken at this time.

Right back to you, OMB – In a lingering dispute over zoning, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) asked the township to consider further information from David Daszkiewicz. He has filed an appeal to the OMB regarding an Official Plan amendment that permits Thousand Islands Concrete to establish a transfer station on Highway 7 near Arden.

In short order, Council passed a resolution saying they have all read the new information that Mr. Daszkiewicz brought forward, and re-confirmed their amendment. The matter will now return to the OMB for a ruling.

Circle Square crossing – Frank Domen, from Circle Square Ranch, located across from Big Clear Lake near Arden, appeared before Council to ask permission for the installation of a crossing light for summer campers, who cross the road to access the lake each day in the summer as part of the camp schedule. Domen said that the camp's insurer has brought forward a concern over the crossing as a “risk management” issue. Domen said Circle Square would cover all the costs.

Council accepted the request and referred Domen to the Public Works Department.

Lighting contract – A quotation from Wylie Electric of Kingston for new lighting and electrical work at the Hinchinbrooke garage was approved. The contract is for $11,500.

Rental fee waived for dirty hall – Upon receipt of a letter complaining about the condition of the hall on Christmas Day from the organizers of a Christmas Community Dinner at the Oso Hall, Council decided to reimburse the group for the hall rental fee. The letter complained of ice outside the hall, buckets in the kitchen, salt and dirt in the sinks, and an odour emanating from the bathroom.

Acting township CAO Cathy MacMunn said she was aware of the buckets and the icing problem, but had no information about the other concerns.

“The hall should be kept clean,” said Councilor Frances Smith “this has been brought to our attention before.” 

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 12, 2009 Will it be “all for one and one for all” in South Frontenac?By Jeff Green

Two weeks ago, South Frontenac council rejected a proposal to amalgamate the road maintenance and parkland reserve funds in the township.

Currently the roads and waste management services, as well as some reserve funds, are all managed on a district basis. The township has a central budget and four district budgets, and both Mayor Davison and some senior township staff have argued that having four roads budgets and four waste management budgets in one township is unwieldy and does not foster a unified township.

This week at a Committee of the Whole meeting, the majority of South Frontenac councilors agreed to look seriously at amalgamating all services within the township, even the contentious one of waste management.

Mayor Gary Davison initiated the debate this week by saying, “Comments were made last time to the effect of 'let's not do half, let's get it done’, so here we are again”.

Councilor Ron Vandewal said, “I was one that definitely said that. There are things we have to agree about, such as reserve funds. Right now the way it works the districts have all the gravy and the township has all the liability. We have to move forward somehow or we'll fall back. I think this council should deal with this before our term is up”.

Among the five other councilors who were present, three agreed with Vandewal, but Portland councilors Jim Hicks and Bill Robinson remained opposed.

“I'm ok with amalgamation,” said Robinson, “for the roads, I'd support that, but waste management and central recreation, I won't support that”.

The two councilors for Storrington district, who have been cold to the amalgamation proposal, were not in attendance.

“Why don't we get the mayor and the CAO to bring a proposal forward for amalgamation to our Committee of the Whole meeting in March, and we can go through it and see what we like and what we want to change,” suggested Councilor David Hahn.

Mayor Davison acknowledged that any decision about amalgamation would have to be made with the entire Council present, but said, “We are not going to stop moving issues forward because people aren’t here. Everyone will get their chance”.

Gord Burns will bring a report forward to a meeting on March 10.

Salt management: Public works Manager Mark Segsworth brought forward a proposal to engage Jewell Engineering in a $63,500 contract to design a second salt/sand building at the township’s largest works yard at Keeley Road near Sydenham. Jewell will also provide a proposal for a series of other changes to the site to make it safer and bring it in line with provincial requirements. All of the work that needs to be done at Keeley Road will likely cost more than $1 million, and will likely be paid for out of the township’s gas tax rebate from the federal government.

“Keeley Road is our largest yard, and will likely remain that way for quite a while,” said Segsworth, “It's a good place to start, and then we can work at getting all of our yards up to standard.”

“We give people such a hard time when they want to put an addition on to their cottage; I think it’s time we got our own house in order,” said Councilor Del Stowe.

A resolution to approve the $63,500 contract will come to the Council meeting on February 17.