Scrapping Denbigh Hall renovations wouldn’t impact tax levy, says CAO/Clerk-Treasurer

Craig Bakay | Apr 27, 2022

Putting a halt to renovations at the hall in Denbigh wouldn’t have an impact on the 2022 levy, as the funds are all coming from grants and reserves especially for that purpose, CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed told Council at its regular (online) meeting April 19.

Reed was responding to a delegation of Charles McCartney, a landowner of more than 30 years in the Denbigh/Vennachar area.

In an email to Council April 11, McCartney said: “if the residents would consider sacrificing that renovation for this year, the Covid relief money for that renovation could be put in a reserve and used to reduce the taxes from 5.23 down to 2.88.

“A lot of people in the service industry suffered during Covid and I’m just looking for a way to help them.”

McCartney also suggested a similar plan for the electronics slated for the hall to produce electronic meetings.

“Charles, you may not have realized but contracts have been awarded and work is well underway,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch.

“I was not aware of that information,” McCartney said.

However, it’s all moot, Reed said because “we’re not allowed to take it (Covid funding) to reduce the levy. “And even if we were to take it right out of the budget, including the A/V equipment, it wouldn’t impact the levy.”

“We’re spending the money in Denbigh/Vennachar for the residents there to be able to see the workings of Council,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

Fritsch said that he probably wouldn’t support such a measure even if it were possible.

“I’m reluctant to push for a one-year dip in tax relief,” he said. “Because it comes back to haunt you in subsequent years.”

Vx policy revision

A revised Covid vaccination policy that includes (among other things) a stipulation that non-vaccinated workers may be placed on unpaid leave during a workplace outbreak of Covid-19, drew a response from Coun. David Miles.

“I’m surprised we’re still discriminating between vaccinated and non-vaccinated,” Miles said. “The vaccinations did not work (and) I think to say somebody who is vaccinated is safer to the public than someone who is not vaccinated is not looking at the facts.”

Miles’ statement about the vaccines not working drew a snort of haughty derision from Coun. Kirby Thompson.

Miles voted against instructing staff to bring back a bylaw outlining the revised policy to the next meeting but it passed 4-1.

Floating accommodations, no

A request for comments from the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry on the possibility of a new ‘floating accommodations’ industry brought an unequivocable ‘no thanks’ from Addington Highlands Council.

“We don’t want it to happen — that’s our bottom line and that’s in there,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch. “But there are other questions they wanted us to answer.”

Questions such as how long a renter could be on a lake (21 days or seven) drew specific attention.

“Put in zero days,” said Coun. Helen Yanch. “(But) we can still say we’re not having it here.”

“I’m not sure we could do that (if the Province OK’s it),” said Reeve Henry Hogg. “My biggest fear is I don’t want things downloaded to the Township.

“How are we going to enforce this?”

“I’m very concerned,” said Yanch. “We don’t support it and the Township has never controlled waterways in any other way.

“Where are they going to put their grey water. We don’t have anywhere they could put it.”

“If this was addressing a housing shortage for something we might have to look at it in a different way but that’s not what we’re doing,” said Coun. David Miles.”