Addington Highlands waives fees for late tax payments

Special to The News | Apr 22, 2020

Addington Highlands Council held a “Special” Meeting Tuesday afternoon.
The meeting was held instead of the regular meeting scheduled for Denbigh Tuesday night and lasted about 12 minutes.

First on the agenda was a motion to waive interest/penalty charges on current 2020 taxes outstanding as of May 1, 2020.

At the March 27 Special Meeting, Council resolved to waive the penalty and interest on current taxes outstanding as of April 1, 2020 and to re-evaluate penalty and interest charges on a monthly basis.

“This would be consistent with the decisions of other municipalities in L & A County and the area,” said CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed.

In her report, Reed said the effect of the March 27 decision was a loss in revenue of about $5,000 and as the second installment is not due until May 29, the effect of waiving penalty/interest for May 1 would be about the same as April, if not less.

Council also passed a measure to waive the $10 fee for NSF cheques and pre-authorized payments.

This will remain in effect until 30 after the Provincial state of emergency is lifted.

It also decided to keep charges for dog tags at the prior to March 31 amount until 30 days after the Provincial state of emergency has been lifted.

The deadline to purchase dog tags was March 31 and tags purchased after that date normally are raised by $3 (ie $6 to $9 for a male or non-spayed female, $8 to $11 for a non-spayed female).

Again, Reed said this was also consistent with other area municipalities.

Groundskeeper

The Township is looking for someone to look after the grounds in at the Northbrook Skate Park, Northbrook Medical Centre and Kaladar Park. The groundskeeper positions in Denbigh and at the Flinton Hall and Library will be offered to the people that performed the duties last year in keeping with Township practice.

“It makes sense to keep those three together,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch.

Operation Thankful

Council agreed to the use of a couple of Township vehicles for Operation Thankful on April 24.

“It is going to be a line of vehicles going around the villages to show our love and support to the frontline essential workers in our area, similar to what neighbouring communities have done,” said one of the organizers, Teri Woods, in a letter to Council.

“Sounds like a parade, you’re not allowed to have a parade,” said Reeve Henry Hogg, jokingly. “But we did send a couple of fire trucks to Napanee a couple of weeks ago.”

Both Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch and Coun. Helen Yanch said they had no problem with the plan.

“But we’ll need to clarify that it’s just from the firehall to the seniors home to the medical centre and then disperse,” said Fire Chief/Director of emergency services Casey Cuddy.

“It’s a day off for our crews so I can’t guarantee how many volunteers we’ll get, but it should be OK,” said Roads and Waste Management Supervisor Brett Reavie. “And we can have the one-ton truck ready if any of Council would like to volunteer to drive it.”

“I’m thinking of participating,” said Hogg. “But I think I’ll take my own vehicle.”

“I’m taking my own vehicle too,” said Yanch.