Group seeks to bring refugees to Addington Highlands

Andy Anderson appeared before Addington Highlands Council on Monday to support a request by an Ad Hoc group who have already met with MP Mike Bossio to talk about Addington Highlands hosting up to seven refugee families. The request to Council, which came from group member Carolyn McCullough, is for the use of the former Northbrook fire hall as a storage depot for donated items, such as large pieces of furniture (beds, couches, tables, etc.) over the next few months.

Councilor Bill Cox said, “I don't think that building is suitable for storage. The roof leaks and it floods in the spring and summer. That's why we built a new fire hall, and that's why we have been talking about tearing it down.”

Andy Anderson replied that if the ground were lowered at the front door of the hall, which the refugee support group is planning to do, the flooding would not take place.

“I don't think that's the only source of the flooding,” said Cox.

“We don't need the building for that long. We'll have it emptied by the spring,” said Anderson.

Councilor Tony Fritsch said, “What if we set an end date, such as May 1, when the building needs to be clear?”

A motion to that effect was proposed and passed by a vote of 4-1. Bill Cox cast the dissenting vote.

The refugee support group is meeting in Cloyne this week, and will be appealing for support from the public in short order.

Insurance costs up

Addington Highlands’ new fire hall may help lower insurance rates for some residents but the township is looking at an increase. Clerk/Treasurer Christine Reed said that the 11% increase (from $64,000 in 2015 to $72,000 in 2016) follows several years of decreases and has come about because of increases in the value of township assets. These include new vehicles in the roads department and the new fire hall. The township is insured by Jardine Lloyd Thompson.

Sports grant

The township received notice of a granting program, Ontario Sports and Recreation Community Funding, which has a deadline of January 16, 2016.

Councilor Fritsch said he will convene a meeting of seniors and community groups in the township within a week to gauge support for an application.

“If the groups have something in mind, we can get an application in; otherwise we will have to pass. It's short notice, as usual, from the province,” he said.

Rural Mayors’ Forum of Eastern Ontario

Reeve Henry Hogg reported that after meeting monthly for three months, the Rural Mayors’ Forum of Eastern Ontario is taking shape as a group of politicians from smaller municipalities faced with a set of similar concerns, such as increased policing costs and continuing challenges with internet and cell phone service in more remote areas.

One suggestion of the group is for member municipalities to include policing costs as a separate line on tax bills so residents understand where tax increases in 2016 and beyond are coming from.

When asked if all the members of the group are facing increased policing costs, Hogg said that only one, Arnprior, will see a decrease in 2016.

“Arnprior has left the group, because they do not face the same set of problems as the others,” he said.

The group will be meeting next in the Village of Lanark in January.

Holiday Hours

The township office will close on Thursday, December 24 at 12 noon and will not re-open until Monday, January 4 at 8:30 am. The extra days beyond the statutory holidays will be paid holidays, courtesy of the township.

January meeting date

Council normally meets on the first and third Monday of each month. In the case of January, 2016, that would mean meeting in Flinton at 1 pm on January 4. With a meeting already set for December 21 in Denbigh, and the extended Christmas holiday to follow, Council has decided to meet on January 11 at 1pm in Flinton.

“If we do this again next year, that first meeting of the year should take place in Denbigh,” said Reeve Hogg.

Economic Development in South Frontenac

Katie Nolan, an Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Officer who is based in Kemptville, gave a brief but detailed description of the programs, resources and tools her department could offer if Council chooses to undertake economic development planning and implementation for the township.

Nolan listed a wide range of activities that could be called economic development, including community revitalization, investment attraction, business development, and planning and infrastructure development. She outlined the steps that could go into the four stages of the process: preparation, analysis, formulation of goals and action plans, and implementation and assessment. Nolan also cautioned that any such project should be undertaken in a scale appropriate to the size of the community: “Don’t bite off more than you can chew; follow the steps and have a strong plan.”

The outline of her presentation is on the township website, as part of the Dec 08 Committee of the Whole agenda.

Request to Purchase Municipal Property

Planner Mills asked Council to consider a request by Doug Amey to purchase a vacant 100 acre lot of township property on Concession IX, Bedford, which adjoins a similar sized lot belonging to Amey. This came to Council a year ago, and is still unresolved.

Mills listed several complications: both properties are landlocked and accessible only by 1.2 km of unopened road allowance that runs from Canoe Lake Road through wetland and a small waterbody; a portion of this road allowance near the township road has several of the neighbour’s farm buildings located on it; recent investigation shows an unrecorded barn and other buildings located on the township property. The issue was returned to Mills for further information.

Notice of Pending Subdivision Application

Mills advised Council that a new subdivision application was being processed at the County level, and would be coming before Council some time in the New Year. This would be for an eventual 51 residential estate lots on Collins Lake, part lots 25 to 30, concession VII, Storrington District (first phase).

Johnston Point OMB Appeal

In regard to last week’s impasse regarding approval of draft plan approval, CAO Orr announced that Council had provided direction to their lawyer in a closed session prior to tonight’s open meeting.

Township Organizational Review

The 2016 budget includes up to $45,000 for the completion of a comprehensive organizational review. Orr presented a suggested outline of the scope of such a review for Council’s comments before issuing an RFP.

The outline included a stipulation that interviews take place with all members of Council and all managers, supervisors, lead hands, office staff and the union president on how the township is run. It will review how council operates, how all departments are run and will look for efficiencies, savings, and the potential for contracting out some functions, shared service models with other township's, and much more. Comparisons with 3-5 similar sized municipalities will also be required.

Councillors’ comments of “interesting”, “exhaustive” and “comprehensive” all verged on understatement.

Applewood Dock

Representatives of the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA) inspected the recently installed Applewood dock (East end, Loughborough Lake) following a thoroughly documented letter of complaint from local resident Matt Rennie. They found that the dock was considerably larger than the permit had specified, but have chosen to not enforce their stipulations.

Councillor Schjerning said he found this lack of follow-up and enforcement to be troubling, asking what Council could do about it.

The CRCA will be invited to explain their decision at the January 12 Committee meeting.  

by Julie Druker and Jeff Green

MacDonald named deputy mayor

An election was held for the post of deputy mayor of Central Frontenac for 2016. It will be a year in which the deputy may be called upon to do more work than in other years because Mayor Frances Smith will be busy fulfilling the role of Frontenac County warden in addition to her mayoralty duties.

Two candidates were nominated: Brent Cameron and Bill MacDonald. They both spoke briefly about their willingness to serve and they each also indicated they would be supportive if the other person was chosen.

Councilors Sherry Whan and Cindy Kelsey were absent, leaving six members of Council to vote. The vote was tied 3-3 and Mayor Smith cast the deciding vote for Bill MacDonald.

MacDonald has served six years as mayor of Central Frontenac and two as warden of Frontenac County, but this is his first term as deputy mayor.

Planning report

Township planner, Joe Gallivan, reported on the work plan for township planning for 2015 and 2016. He said that he hopes to bring forward proposals for an Official Plan update and a new comprehensive zoning by-law in the spring of 2016 for public scrutiny.

Both of these documents have been delayed, but Gallivan said, “That delay may be to the township's advantage, because indications are that the first Frontenac County Official Plan will be approved shortly and once that happens the County will be the approval authority for the township's Official Plan update.”

Since two members of Central Frontenac Council sit on County Council, Gallivan said the “County will be more aware of the reality on the ground in Central Frontenac than the current approval authority, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.”

He said minor Official Plan amendments can take over a year to complete when the approval is done by the ministry, and he expects a six-week time frame will be sufficient once the county takes over the approvals.

Building starts hit $7 million for 2015

Chief Building Official Jeremy Neven reported that as of the end of November permits for $6.9 million in building projects had been taken out, and a week into December that number has gone over $7 million. The total for the first 11 months in 2014 was $4.6 million and in 2013 the 11 month total was $5.6 million.

Permits for 18 new homes have been taken out this year, up from 10 at this time last year, and 15 in 2013.

Permit fees are set to hit $100,000 this year.

Olden waste site date changes effective Feb. 1, 2016

Council agreed to the recommendations put forth by Public Works Manager John Badgley to close the Olden waste site on Mondays and open it on Fridays instead, with the changes to take effect as of February 1, 2016. Badgley said that the change would give the Olden site attendant two consecutive days off. As well, due to low traffic counts, all waste sites in the township will be closed on Remembrance Day.

Council upholds no parking by-law on Anne Street in Arden

Regarding a request by an Arden resident at council's last meeting to park on Anne Street, council adopted Badgley's recommendation to deny the request since a no parking by-law is in effect there. “Staff do not need any more obstacles than they already have,” Badgely said when Councilor Tom Dewey asked him why an exception could not be made in this case since the resident has no place else to park at his home.

Dewey then asked council to defer the issue until staff could look further into it. Council upheld Badgley's recommendation, with Mayor Frances Smith stating, “We have a by-law in place and until it is changed it must be enforced.”

Council agreed to review the existing parking by-law in the new year and until that time the resident will, by law, have to park elsewhere.

Public Works Activity Report

Badgley reported that township staff are continuing to brush, grade and patch local roads throughout the township when the weather permits. A recent meeting with the trappers' council in an effort to get the township's beaver issues under control is ongoing and staff are perusing new ideas to address the issue. Crews have also been installing a fence at the Parham cemetery.

Fire Report

Fire Chief Bill young reported the number and types of calls received from December 1, 2014 to November 30, 2015. He said that the number of controlled burning calls, 22, is a continuation of a three-year downward tend. When questioned why the number of medical/resuscitator calls were so numerous, at 163, Young reported that the unit has been receiving these types of calls roughly every two or three days. Of the overall hours of servicing, these calls required 691 hours of service. Young said they are expensive to do since the department receives no outside financial assistance. Young also reported that training sessions and hours were up in this period as a result of a number of mandatory training sessions where often over 100 volunteers were required to take part. Council requested a break down in the calls per district in the township as a way to better understand overall service requirements and expenses.

Parham fire hall update

Fire Chief Young outlined changes in the costs to the building of the new fire hall in Parham, which included a $40,000 increase as a result of office code regulations to make the building's public library/community space fire rated. Young said he expects the building to open, if not before Christmas, then in the early new year.

Surplus equipment up for grabs for non profits/general public

Council passed a motion offering up the surplus equipment in the former public school in Sharbot Lake following council's recent acquisition of the property. The equipment will be up for grabs first to non-profit organizations in the township, and second to the general public at a nominal fee. The equipment includes desks, chairs, filing cabinets and shelving units. Chief Building Officer Jeremy Neven volunteered to head up the project.

CF Re-Use Center committee proceeds as planned

At council's last meeting, Councilor Victor Heese proposed setting up a re-use center at the Olden waste site, and at this meeting Heese and Deputy Mayor Bill MacDonald volunteered to sit on a planning committee. The committee will include members of the public and will investigate the viability of such a site. The re-use center's mandate is to “provide residents with a space to drop off usable items that will be offered free of charge to visitors”. The objective is to divert goods away from local landfill sites. It is expected that the site will be operated by volunteers.

Full day set for budget deliberations

Following his financial report to council, Treasurer Michael McGovern was asked by council when staff might have their numbers ready for upcoming budget deliberations. McGovern replied that it could take three weeks. Council set a date for Friday January 29 to meet for a full day of budget deliberations and McGovern agreed to get the numbers to council in advance of that meeting.

Delegations

Louise Moody, executive director at Northern Frontenac Community Services, made a presentation to council accompanying her $15,500 request to council for support for the multiple youth programs that NFCS offers in the township. The programming includes after school programs that are run out of St. James Major and Land O' Lakes schools, as well as the Child Centre. Last year 70 students were served. Programming included a day camp run at the Child Centre that had 29 participants aged 6-10, and a Steps to Success and Leader-In-Training program for older youth.

Youth dances, field trips, the Great Outdoor Adventure and Kids Fit Indoor Soccer were some of the other successful programs that Moody outlined.

Moody also hoped to recruit a member of council to the Northern Rural Youth Partnership, which has many members from various related organizations. Council accepted the report for information.

Local municipalities have received notification about funding for 2016 from the Province of Ontario under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF). While the funding favors smaller, more rural municipalities, which are the ones that will be hardest hit by increases in the cost of policing services starting next year, the OMPF has not increased to any great extent.

North Frontenac Township, which will be paying over $145,000 more for OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) costs than they did in 2015, have seen their OMPF allocation go up by $77,100, to $1.183 million.

Central Frontenac will see an increase of $76,400, to $1.74 million.

Addington Highlands will see an increase of $47,000, to $1.65 million.

South Frontenac will see an increase of $17,700, to $1.49 million.

The provincial government set up a funding program after a series of costs were downloaded to municipal governments by the Province of Ontario over 15 years ago. These included policing costs, which until then had been fully funded in rural municipalities by the province. The revised version of the program, now called OMPF, is designed to compensate smaller municipalities for unspecified costs related to running a municipality.

The stated goal of the OMPF, according to the provincial government website, “is to help support areas with limited property assessment and recognize the challenges of northern and rural municipalities, while targeting funding to those with more challenging fiscal circumstances.”

In the November 30, 2015 issue, Jeff Green reported on the Township of Central Frontenac’s purchase of the old schools (Central Frontenac Buys Two School Properties)Central Frontenac Buys Two School Properties) in Parham and Sharbot Lake

The concept that Council would be negotiating their purchase without a business plan in place, and having to borrow money to do that, is the kind of unprofessional thinking we hard-pressed ratepayers do not need. Central Frontenac’s population base over the past 20 years is static at best (2011 – 4,556; 2006 – 4,665; 2001 – 4,557; 1996 – 4,615).

Two ideas were promulgated: that they could be used either as equipment garages, or as a seniors’ residence. Mr. Green quite correctly pointed out that the township has relatively new garages on Road 38 and Highway 7. I would add also, that a private investor has spent the past year renovating the old seniors’ residence in Sharbot Lake, in the expectation of making that available soon to local citizens - its principals do not need the township competing with them.

There is absolutely no economic or practical reason for Central Frontenac to negotiate and acquire these school properties, and having them lie dormant while Council dreams up uses for them. There is no growth to support this. Let the private sector buy them. There are enough empty structures lying around our township, as anybody can see.

The grand opening / open house on November 21 for the new Kaladar-Barrie Northbrook fire station had a good turnout. Reeve Henry Hogg and Deputy Helen Reeve Yanch cut the ribbon to start the day off. Kaladar-Barrie Fire Chief Casey Cuddy thanked the Council of Addington Highlands and the residents for the new fire hall, which has filled a great need. He said the new facilities would help in training and allow for better care of the equipment, thereby providing better service to the residents. Retired clerk treasurer, Jack Pauhl, who was very much involved in getting the project started, was also present to cut the ribbon.

Three retired members of the department were present, including founding fire chief, John Bolton. The event also included informative displays and demonstrations, including car safety information and live fire extinguisher training.

South Frontenac approves 2016 budget

Council spent little time approving the 2016 budget document, which they have looked over on several previous occasions, including an all day session in mid-November. The township will spend over $28 million in 2016 on operations and capital projects, an increase of $750,000 over 2015. Of those expenditures $11.5 million will be covered by grants from other levels of government and reserve funds, and $16.5 million will come from South Frontenac ratepayers.

The $16.5 million levy represents a 6.66% increase over the $15.5 million levy to ratepayers in 2015, but thanks to a healthy increase in new assessment (4.4%), the impact on the average ratepayer will be an increase of only 2.0% in taxation. According to the budget report by Treasurer Louise Fragnito, “the township share of taxation on a $228,223 property [the township average] will increase by 2%, which equals $26.22.” Fragnito made a number of adjustments to the document after the last budget session.

“The impact of all these adjustments aligns with Council’s direction,” she said.

(see editorial – The 2% budget)

“A Very Unusual Situation”

Not even the CAO could see a clear way through this quandary.

In a closed session after the regular Nov. 17 Council meeting, staff had been directed to draw up a settlement proposal for conditions of draft plan approval for the Johnson Point condominium plan. (Loughborough Lake east.) These conditions were brought forward for approval, along with maps and details of some boundary adjustments.

Newly appointed Deputy Mayor Sutherland then proposed an amendment to the plan, which would remove lot 15 from the plan, making it a ’common element open space’. This would bring the plan back to the original number of proposed units, reversing the decisions taken by Council on November 17th. Sutherland said that many local residents were very unhappy about the density of development that was being permitted on what he said is an already heavily developed lake.

Councilor John McDougall said he appreciated Sutherlands position, but felt such an amendment would be “returning to square one.” The township lawyer had approved it, he said, and this was the time “to settle, not support.”

Councilor Ron Sleeth said he was disappointed in ‘the lack of teeth’ shown by the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans and their representing agencies, and he would support the amendment.

Sutherland’s amendment passed.

Mayor Vandewal withdrew from the chair, to propose another amendment deferring the vote until the solicitor could be consulted, because in his opinion Sutherland’s amendment was contrary to what had been put forward by all of Council, and meant that the township has not been negotiating in good faith.

Vandewal’s amendment was defeated, then the original (amended) motion was brought forward, and it was also defeated.

In response to a question from the floor at the end of the meeting, Orr said “We’ll have to figure out how to move forward: I will consult our solicitor.”

A notice of motion for reconsideration would require 2/3 support to pass, and no one offered to make one.

James Campbell/ Public Beach on Canoe Lake

Wayne Orr read a motion that the Township “secure a clear public access point to Canoe Lake on James Wilson Road at the west end of the causeway between Canoe Lake and Eel Lake in the severance process of the adjoining land through the road widening, in line with the survey from J. Kennedy of Nov 30, 2015 on the road widening, and showing the high water and that the photo from Councillor Revill be included as part of the record and that cash in lieu of parkland be taken.”

This motion represented a solution, worked out between Mr. Campbell and Councilor Revill which seems to be acceptable to both Campbell and the Canoe Lake residents who have used that location for swimming for many years.

Ross Sutherland congratulated Revill and Campbell on having worked out a solution, and thanked Campbell. The motion passed with no further comment.

Sydenham Water Plant Contract Extended

Public Works Manager Segsworth recommended that Kingston Utilities’ contract for operation and maintenance of the Sydenham Water System be extended to the end of 2016, and the Public Services Committee tasked with developing a longer-term arrangement for the plant. Segsworth said the Utilities have provided ‘good and timely service’. Passed without discussion.

Community Project Grant Program

Council approved a staff proposal that the third year Community Project Grant Program be expanded to $15,000 by adding $5,000 from fees raised for the endorsement of solar projects. The maximum grant for this increasingly popular program will be raised to $2,000.

Support for Cycling Workshop

Council endorsed a Share The Roads Workshop sponsored by the Frontenac Rides Committee by committing $500 toward this event which is aimed at creating a clear work plan to help the Township become a more cycle friendly community.

Peer Review Policy

Council approved a peer review policy for planning matters, listing the circumstances under which a technical peer review would be mandatory or when it might be optional.

RED Grant Endorsement

Council endorsed a Rural Economic Development Grant application through the County of Frontenac and in partnership with the other Frontenacs to the limit of $8,000.

County CAO trashes Pine Meadow

The news coverage was a story regarding the Higgins/Dewey betrayal. But there is a second more insidious and underhanded situation that the editor clearly points out and readers should not overlook. County Council and the people they represent are in somewhat of a blind trust with the County’s CAO. They depend on him for the ultimate administration, financial and operational management of our County affairs and resources. His advice and input is crucial to almost every discussion. Since he can sway the vote and manipulate a County decision, the CAO’s integrity must be unquestionable.

Let’s be blunt about what happened on November 12 Pine Meadow denied funding by County. The County CAO fed councilors a “pile” of untrue and incorrect statements. The intention was to create doubt regarding Pine Meadow’s financial sustainability, its operating efficiency, its level of nursing care and quality of service. He summed it all up by proclaiming he thought Pine Meadow could learn a few things from Fairmount. He presented Pine Meadow as the poor sister and was making sure all the County cash kept flowing just to Fairmount. He was manipulating councilors and they fell for it. A week later he backed down and admitted much of what he had said wasn’t true. Was he misinformed by staff or does he sometimes speak without knowing what he is talking about? The end result is, his strategy worked. The seniors in the north lost out again and the tough part to accept this time around is that even some of their own Council representatives don’t care.

There ought to be a law for CAOs, senior managers and departmental heads who are paid for by the public purse. If they are proven to intentionally “mislead” their bosses, their councilors or the public three things should happen. First a public apology with an explanation is in order, then an apology to the Council and finally an offer to resign. These blind trusts are fragile. Fool us once but don’t fool us twice.

The present council and staff of Frontenac County seem to be unaware of much information surrounding Pine Meadow Nursing Home and I was surprised when I read your article Pine Meadow Denied Funding By County of Nov. 26. I was chairman of Land O' Lakes Community Services board at the time the province awarded not-for-profit beds. The mandate for Pine Meadow was to serve north Frontenac County and north Lennox & Addington County. The ten townships as they existed at that time all sent representatives to the preliminary planning meetings. We received great support in our fund raising efforts from the general public, Barrie Township and Lennox & Addington County and its townships. The article mentioned a statement by County staff that such a grant would open the door for other not-for-profit nursing homes with Frontenac County residents to ask for grants. Unless not-for-profit beds have been awarded since Pine Meadow opened, the only other one is in downtown Toronto. I find it very sad that a County with a much greater tax base than Lennox & Addington should decide to ignore their northern residents.

North Frontenac Mayor Ron Higgins said he knew he was going to hear about it when he indicated at a meeting of Frontenac County Council on November 12 that he was not going to support a request for funding from Pine Meadow Nursing Home.

As a member of Frontenac County Council, Higgins said the grant would be “outside of the funding obligations and from a fiscal responsibility point of view, I can't support it.

When the matter came to a final vote one week later, only seven of the eight members of the County Council were present, and three of them, Deputy Warden Frances Smith (Central Frontenac), and Councilors John McDougall (South Frontenac) and John Inglis (North Frontenac) were in support. Even with Higgins and the two representatives from Frontenac Islands (Mayor Dennis Doyle and Councillor Natalie Nossal) voting against it, the vote still would have gone Pine Meadow's way if Central Frontenac Councilor Tom Dewey supported it.

The motion that came forward was for a $10,000 annual grant for 10 years, which would have raised the county tax rate by 0.14% in 2016.

However, even though he had indicated he would vote in favour when the matter came up on November 12, when it came time to vote on the 18th, Tom Dewey said he had changed his mind.

“I know I was in favour of this last week, but there have been questions raised since then, and I need to vote based on good sense. We don't know what will happen with Pine Meadow's finances down the road, and my fear is that approving this funding would have a detrimental effect on Fairmount Home, so I can't support it.”

The vote was lost 4-3.

Before the vote was taken, new information was brought forward by Frontenac County staff.

Kelly Pender, the CAO of Frontenac County, had said on November 12 that Pine Meadow “runs annual deficits of $500,000,” and when comparing the operations of Pine Meadow and Fairmount Home, he said, “Pine Meadow does not have 24-hour nursing staff available and Fairmount does. I think Pine Meadow could learn a few things from Fairmount”.

Pender backed down from both statements on November 18, saying that the Pine Meadow deficit was a “one-time event at their fiscal year end this past March, which resulted from transferring a loan to a mortgage after the renovation of the home last year... They also do provide 24-hour nursing, which is not what I indicated last week, but they do not have a secure ward for certain dementia patients like Fairmount does, and that is an expensive service.”

In another report to Council, County Treasurer Marian Van Bruinessen pointed out that it costs $51,344 in annual salary costs per bed at Pine Meadow as compared to $68,823 at Fairmount.

“It is evident that salaries and benefits are the greatest difference in operational costs between Pine Meadow and Fairmount Home,” she wrote, adding that although Pine Meadow has not provided a breakdown of actual wage costs, “The difference in wage rates might be attributable to the proximity to Kingston and the competition for health care providers from other long term care facilities and hospitals in the local area.”

North Frontenac Township funding decision

Two days after the county meeting, Ron Higgins presided over a budget meeting of his own North Frontenac Council.

He explained why he had voted against the Pine Meadow funding at Frontenac County, leading Councilor Wayne Good to say, “We should have passed a motion at this council telling you how to vote on issues like that.”

“It doesn't work that way,” said Higgins. “I do not represent this council at the county. When I am there I have to think about the interests of the entire county, not just North Frontenac.”

“I don't agree,” said Good.

Higgins then put forward another proposal. He said that if North Frontenac put in $25,000 on the condition that both Central Frontenac and Addington Highlands do the same, that would raise $75,000. “Since Pine Meadow has $31,000 in their capital reserve fund, they would then have $106,000 available to pay for the new windows,” Higgins said.

“I don't see that we can ask Addington Highlands and Central Frontenac to support this,” said Councilor Gerry Martin.

Higgins then proposed that North Frontenac simply donate $25,000 towards the windows. He asked CAO Cheryl Robson if there was any money in reserves to cover the donation without having to raise it from 2016 taxation, and she said there is money in the township's capital reserve fund that can cover it.

“I guess we don't have a choice,” said Councilor Gerry Martin when the vote was taken.

Council voted to make the donation.