Addington Highlands Meetings Remain On Youtube For One Year

Craig Bakay | Jan 25, 2023

Beginning with the Jan. 17 meeting, Addington Highlands livestreams of Council and Committee of Adjustment meetings will remain up on YouTube for a period of one year, Council decided at its regular meeting Jan. 17 in Flinton.

Council also approved an overall live streaming of Council meetings policy.

With the advent of covid-19, in-person meetings of all types were banned and this was particularly problematic for elected municipal councils as they are mandated to meet on a regular basis. Meetings began using the Zoom platform with some municipalities simulcasting said meetings to YouTube (North Frontenac has never posted their meetings to YouTube).

After it became OK to meeting in person again, most municipalities decided it was a good idea to keep streaming meetings both to have a record (which does not replace meeting minutes) and to allow more people an opportunity to attend meetings, even if it’s only online. This is particularly applicable for part-time and seasonal residents who aren’t in a position to drive to where meetings are held.

The length of time the meetings remained on YouTube varied greatly as Townships like Central Frontenac leave their meetings up indefinitely. Addington Highlands meetings remained online for 24 hours.

When staff decided it was time to have an online meetings policy added into the Township procedure bylaw, Councillor Ken Hook suggested perhaps it would also be appropriate to decide how long meetings would be posted. He said some residents had asked him about it.

CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed said that she too had had similar inquiries (including those from local media), but wanted to ensure the online meetings didn’t violate any accessibility guidelines.

After discussing this with County officials, they decided that since there is a closed captioning option on YouTube (however inaccurate it can be at times), leaving meetings up became an option.

“Closed captioning is available and we tried it,” Reed said. “About 80 per cent is accurate, I’d say.”

“Well, we won’t have anybody at meetings signing,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

Reed’s initial recommendation was two years but Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch said: “I think one year is plenty.

“It’s more of a close-term thing.”

Closed session portions of meetings will not be live streamed.

Requests deferred to budget

Council referred several requests for donations from community groups to budget deliberations.

These included the Land O’Lakes Horticultural Society ($500), the Cloyne and District Historical Society ($500) and the Lions Club of Land O’Lakes ($1,000 for the Santa Claus Parade).

No sheep behind township office

When it came time to pay the accounts, Councillor Hook was curious as to a $250 entry for “sheep.”

CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed explained that’s for livestock loss to wild predators that the municipality administers on behalf of the province.

“Oh, I wondered if we were keeping sheep out back,” Hooks said.

“We’ll do a little tweaking on those entries, said Reed.

Dogs need to be leashed

Council approved the 2023 Interim Newsletter, including a request from Councilor Helen Yanch.

“I’d like something that reminds people your dogs have to be on a leash or in their own yard,” Yanch said. “They can’t be running around loose.

“It’s a simple thing.”

Grant application

Council approved applying for a Hydro One Energizing Life Community Grant in the amount of $25,000.

The grant, submitted in conjunction with the County, will include the purchase of a variety of recreational equipment to available for loan to use on the County Forest Trails in Flinton. Equipment would include a variety of bicycles, safety equipment, snowshoes, Nordic poles and a new secure storage building.

“How the equipment will be loaned out will have to be worked out,” said Ken Hook. “But first get the grant money.

Public Works report

There has been a lot of extra brushing going on in the Denbigh area, Roads and Waste Manager Brett Reavie told Council in his report.

“There was a lot of snow and ice on branches,” he said.

Reavie said the waste sites were especially busy over the holidays with lots of cardboard boxes being recycled.

“Things have slowed down considerably lately though,” he said.

“At the County Council meeting, it was noted how well our crews did during the significant weather event,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch. “So thanks for that.”