Update: 2014 Municipal Elections
Ron Higgins, who had been registered as a candidate for councilor in Ward 2 of North Frontenac in the upcoming municipal election, is now running for mayor.
Higgins' decision came about as the result of the sudden death of incumbent mayor, Bud Clayton, who was running for re-election. This left Claudio Valentini, the owner of Tomvale airport on Road 506 and a recently retired teacher at Sharbot Lake High School, as the only candidate.
“It is rather awkward to be making the change so soon after Bud's death,” said Higgins last week, “but there is little time before the nomination deadline and once I took the decision I felt I should make the change right away."
Higgins said that he contacted Jackie Clayton, Bud's widow, before making the change.
“It was a difficult phone call for me to make, but she said she had no problem with it,” Higgins said.
Although he was running for council, Higgins said he had been planning to put his name forward for mayor later on, and had talked to Bud Clayton about his long-term political ambitions earlier this summer. He is the founding chair of the North Frontenac Lake Association Alliance, a member of the township's Economic Development Task Force, and a former board member of the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation.
Betty Hunter, who is currently one of the councilors for Ward 3 in North Frontenac, has decided to run again, this time in Ward 2. She had indicated earlier in the summer that she was not going to run for council this time, saying "I've done my time". She has served on council in two of the last three terms (she ran for mayor in 2006 and lost, which put her on the sidelines for four years).
“A number of people have encouraged me to run again, and I consulted with my family and decided to put my name forward again,” she said. Hunter lives in Ward 2 of the township, just metres from the border with Ward 3. She represented Ward 2 between 2003 and 2006, before running and winning in Ward 3 in 2010. She put her name in as a candidate on Friday, September 5, after Ron Higgins had switched his candidacy from Ward 2 councilor to mayor.
With Hunter's inclusion, there are three-way races for the two council seats in both Wards 2 and 3, as well as for mayor.
Ensuring there was a race for council in Ward 2 was one of Hunter's considerations.
“I think people should have choices,” she said.
With these changes there are now three candidates in Ward 2 (Gerry Martin, Vernon Hermer, and Betty Hunter) and three candidates (John Inglis, Denis Bedard and Fred Fowler) in Ward 3 (Palmerston-Canonto)
There are only two candidates (Fred Perry and Wayne Good) for the two Ward 1 (Barrie) positions
In other townships there are a number of competitive wards as well as some acclamations, as the final day for nominations approaches. The deadline is tomorrow, Friday, September 12.
In Addington Highlands, the race for Ward 1 (Denbigh) just heated up. There are now four candidates. Joining Eythel Grant and Alice Madigan are Kirby Thompson and incumbent Tony Fritsch. There remain two candidates for reeve, incumbent Henry Hogg, and Gerald Bray. As of early this week Bill Cox and Helen Yanch are the only candidates for the two Ward 2 (Kaladar) positions.
In Central Frontenac, there has been a two-way race for mayor between incumbent Janet Gutowski and Councilor Frances Smith for several months.
Ward 1 (Kennebec) is a relatively straightforward three-way race for the two positions between current councilors Tom Dewey and Jeff Matson, and former councilor Logan Murray.
The other three wards feature crowded fields. In Ward 2 (Olden) Justin Gray, Victor Heese, Jamie Riddell, Cory Thompson, and incumbent John Purdon are seeking two positions. In Ward 3 (Oso) incumbent Wayne Millar has been joined in the race by four others: Bob Olmstead, Bill MacDonald, Sherry Whan, and Dennis Scott.
Finally, in Ward 4 (Hinchinbrooke) there are six candidates, including current councillors, Heather Fox and Phillip Smith (who was appointed to Council following the death of Bill Snyder) as well as Brent Cameron, Kirby Bertrim, Sharon Shepherd and Jim Lowery.
South Frontenac features a three-way race for mayor that includes both sitting Loughborough councilors, Ron Vandewal and Allan McPhail as well as John McEwen. The vacancies in Loughborough seem to have sparked a lot of attention, as there are six candidates seeking the two positions: Mark Schjerning, Fran Willes, Stephen Bach, Ross Sutherland, Dave Plumpton and Terry Thake.
By contrast, the Portland race looks tame, but it will be contested. Incumbents Bill Robinson and John McDougall are being joined in the race by Bradley Barbeau. In Bedford, Pat Barr (who was appointed to Council following the resignation of Mark Tinlin), and Allan Revill are the only candidates for the two positions, and a similar situation is shaping up in Storrington district, where the only candidates are Norm Roberts and Ron Sleeth. Cam Naish, one of the current councilors, had been running, but he has withdrawn from the race.
In Tay Valley, the Sherbrooke ward may see acclamations as well, as Roxanne Darling and Mark Burnham are the only candidates. Keith Kerr is the only candidate for reeve and Brian Campbell the only candidate for deputy reeve.
Finally, for our readers in Elphin/McDonalds Corners, there are no candidates for Ward 5 of Lanark Highlands, but there is a race for mayor between Peter McLaren and Brian Stewart, and for deputy mayor between Bob Mingie and John Hall.
(Note – the above was written after office hours on Tuesday, September 9, leaving three days for new candidates to come into the race and for candidates to change the position they are seeking. Any resident of a township, whether they are full-time or seasonal, can seek a council position in any ward or they can run for mayor. The only other restriction in addition to residency is Canadian citizenship. Candidates can change the position they are running for up until the nomination deadline at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, September 12 – we will post the final line-up at Frontenacnews.ca on Friday)
A number of all-candidates meetings are being set up by various parties throughout the region, and the Frontenac News will be sponsoring meetings unless others have come forward. A meeting for Loughborough Council candidates is scheduled for Wednesday, September 17 at the Perth Road Sunday school hall in Perth Road Village at 7 pm.
The full schedule of meetings sponsored by the Frontenac News will be announced in next week's edition. Meetings will be taking place during a three-week period, from September 30 to October 17 in all districts with contested races.
Candidate profiles for South Frontenac will be published on September 25; for Central Frontenac on October 2; and for North Frontenac and Addington Highlands on October 9. A dedicated election section at Frontenacnews.ca will be up and running in the coming days.
Frontenac County Council
Emotional council to consider naming conference room after Clayton - Sept. 3
Just two days after Warden Bud Clayton died, emotions were running high at a Committee of the Whole meeting of Frontenac County Council.
Councilors paid tribute to Clayton at the start of the meeting, noting his contribution to improvements at the county, his work for Pine Meadow Nursing Home, and his commitment to North Frontenac Township.
Deputy Warden Dennis Doyle then suggested that the conference room on the main floor of the county offices, which used to be used as a council chamber in the first few years following municipal amalgamation, and is now used as a committee and staff meeting room, be named the Bud Clayton room.
A number of councilors said they would support such a proposal.
Councilor John McDougall suggested that the proposal be deferred for a couple of weeks for council to consider any implications there may be to the naming, and for Clayton's family to be consulted. Council agreed and the matter was deferred to the September 17 Council meeting.
Six Sigma on a lean
There have been a parade of consultants to meetings of Frontenac County over the years, but very few, if any, have a black belt.
Dale Schattenkirk, the CAO of Learning to See Consulting out of Regina, Saskatchewan, is the exception. His black belt is not in Karate, however; it is in Lean Six Sigma, and it is actually a Master Black Belt.
Lean Six Sigma is not a college fraternity; it is a managerial concept that results in the elimination of waste in work processes. It is a system that was adopted by large industrial corporations in the 1980s and 1990s and has been applied to the public sector in the last 15 years or so.
The goal of Lean Six Sigma is the elimination of eight kinds of waste in institutional settings: defects, overproduction, waiting, non-utilized talent, transportation, inventory, motion, extra-processing, which are expressed in an acronym – DOWNTIME.
For a cost of $30,000, Shattenkirk brought a team to Frontenac County this summer to look at the county's procurement processes and at logistics within Frontenac Paramedic Services.
They found little to improve upon in the procurement end but as far as logistics within Frontenac Paramedic Services they found a number of what Schattenkirk called “opportunities to improve”.
Most of these have to do with better tracking of supplies used by paramedics on an ongoing basis, less extra driving by managerial and support staff to ensure supplies are in place, and better tracking of supplies to cut down on the amount of materials that end up being recycled because they reach their past due date before being used.
What Schattenkirk was more interested in talking about, however, was the work culture at Frontenac County, which impressed him.
“You guys are in a very good position in terms of quality improvement,” he said. “You have a group that is committed to improving the operation at all levels of the organization.”
He suggested training staff to do quality improvement, using the LEAN system to train a few key members of both the management and staff teams to a LEAN yellow and green belt level.
“The idea is to have everyone in the county actually engaged in how the county runs,” he said. “Within 18 months you should be completely independent. You won't need jokers like us to telling you what to do.”
He also said that the money charged by his company is offset by savings, either in “light green or dark green dollars” - light green dollars referring to time saved by staff that can be used for more productive work, and dark green referring to cash savings.
A proposal to extend the contract with Learning to See Consulting will be considered by Council later this month.
Central Frontenac Council
Hurdles cleared for Arden Court transformation
The Arden Court Group Home, which closed earlier this year, may be turned into a housing complex for seniors.
Central Frontenac Council approved an Official Plan amendment for the building and the lands adjacent to it, which make multi-residential use permissible. The rest of the large property will remain zoned as rural. This Official Plan amendment, in addition to a corresponding zoning amendment, has been requested by the property's current owner as well as a prospective new owner who is planning a new housing development in place of the group home.
“This will have the effect of dealing head on with our identified need for seniors' housing,” said Mayor Janet Gutowski in supporting the proposed amendment, “and it is being done by the private sector, which is ideal.”
The Official Plan amendment is going to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval, at which time the township will approve a zoning amendment.
Township applies for road grants in Sharbot Lake
Recently retired Central Frontenac Public Works Manager Mike Richardson came back to Council to talk about two grant applications he has agreed to spearhead for the township. The first one is for a change to the bridge on Road 38 in Sharbot Lake, just south of the high school, which goes over the former CP rail line. The bridge needs repair, which would cost $325,000. But even if that repair were done, the township is facing future maintenance costs on a bridge that is no longer necessary as the rail line is now only used as a recreational trail. The Small Communities fund, which would cover the repair, covers 90% of the cost of projects that are approved. Given that, Richardson recommended that instead of repairing the bridge, the township remove it, lower the road to highway grade, and install a large culvert to allow for crossing on the trail. That would cost between $500,000 and $900,000 depending on the mode of construction, but would result in a safer roadway for pedestrian traffic and a lower maintenance structure for future councils to maintain.
The second grant is for a long contemplated reconstruction of Elizabeth Street in Sharbot Lake. It is a $1.2 million project, which would cost $400,000 to the township if approved.
Council decided to apply for both grants, as recommended by Richardson.
Bud Clayton: Looking back at a Politcal Career
North Frontenac Mayor and Frontenac County Warden, Bud Clayton, died on Labour Day Monday.
Clayton took ill while attending a conference of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in London, Ontario on August 17. Kelly Pender, Chief Administrative Officer of Frontenac County, was attending the meeting with Clayton. He stayed with him in hospital as it became clear that the illness was serious, and Jackie Clayton, Bud's wife, rushed to London.
After ruling out a heart attack or stroke, the doctors at the London Health Centre began treatment for viral meningitis. However, his condition did not improve and he remained in intensive care in London until he died.
North Frontenac Township had a meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning at the Snow Road Hall.
Deputy Mayor Fred Perry, who was a fellow councilor with Clayton between 2004 and 2006, has been deputy mayor under him for the past four years, and he read out a short prepared statement.
He described Bud Clayton as “an extraordinary man” and said that Council and staff struggled with whether or not to go ahead with the meeting, but, “We all know Bud would say 'take care of business'”.
(The statement is reprinted in full at the end of this article)
During Bud Clayton’s tenure as mayor, North Frontenac has focused on long-term planning, one of his major concerns. He often talked with concern about prospects for the future given the size of the township's population and the demands being made on municipal governments.
He also had a gently ironic viewpoint about the relationship between township councils and staff. He would say that it is staff who make all the decisions and they let Council express their opinion once in a while, just to humour the politicians.
During his tenure as North Frontenac mayor he developed a close working relationship with CAO Cheryl Robson, Clerk Jenny Duhamel and the rest of the senior staff, and this was in evidence at the Tuesday morning meeting, as Duhamel had difficulty starting the business of Council and getting the meeting underway after Fred Perry read his statement.
Clayton took on the warden’s role at Frontenac County last December, after the controversial two-year term of Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski. He was involved in the hiring process of current County CAO Pender.
While never short of opinions, he had considerable political skills, and exerted a calming influence on both his own council and Frontenac County Council, managing to ride just slightly above the rifts between different members of Council.
This was particularly noticeable at Frontenac County Council over the past nine months.
Bud Clayton was also instrumental in the redevelopment plans for Pine Meadow Nursing Home, which are now over 50% complete, and he remained in the role of chair of the management board for the home until his death.
He was registered to run for a second term as mayor in the upcoming municipal election, and his death leaves Claudio Valentini as the only candidate in the race with just over a week remaining until the close of registration on September 12, although that will likely change.
Bud was a member of North Frontenac Council from 2001 until 2006, and ran for mayor in 2006, as the incumbent, Ron Maguire, had indicated he was not running again. On the day of the deadline, Maguire reversed course and put his name in. He won the election with a 400-vote advantage over Clayton. Betty Hunter, also a sitting member of Council, finished third.
After that, Clayton turned his back on municipal politics and threw himself into the Pine Meadow rebuilding project. That is, until September of 2010.
With only days remaining before the registration deadline for that year's election, Jim Beam was the only declared candidate for mayor. That's when Bud Clayton decided to try for a political comeback by throwing his hat into the ring.
When interviewed during the 2010 campaign, he explained why he was seeking office again.
“Leadership roles are ones that I've taken my whole life. All of my jobs have been in leadership or leadership training roles so I am comfortable seeking this position. I also felt that acclamation is not the way to go for a position where someone has to lead Council and represent the township to other levels of government, and I was in a position to step up to the plate.”
During that campaign, he said that mending fences with Frontenac County would be one of his priorities if elected, along with promoting long-term planning in North Frontenac. It's fair to say both of those goals have been advanced considerably over the last four years, and the opening of the Robertsville ambulance base in early August of this year is a fitting symbol of an improved relationship between the township and the county.
The statement that Deputy Mayor Fred Perry read out at the Sept. 2 council meeting follows:
In Loving Memory of Mayor/Warden Bud Clayton
We are very saddened to hear of our recent loss of our friend and colleague Mayor/Warden, Bud Clayton, and we would like to express our sincere condolences to his family.
Bud was an extraordinary man.
He loved people and was a committed husband and father.
He was dedicated, realistic, community-orientated and he touched so many hearts.
Bud was a forward thinker and for the betterment of our community, he initiated North Frontenac Council's first documented Strategic Directions.
He valued our beautiful area and he loved to fish and hunt.
While we struggled with whether or not to go ahead with this meeting, we all know Bud would say "Take care of business".
He made people smile and brought laughter to their lives.
He was always there to give a helping hand to anyone and he had such a positive attitude.
He made sure everyone knew they were special and how much they were appreciated.
Could everyone please stand and join me in a moment of silence in loving memory of Bud.
Words cannot express how sorry we all are.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Jackie and their family during this difficult time.
He will be greatly missed by his family, friends and his community.
Thanks, Bud, for everything - you were our great Leader!!!
Bud Clayton – one memory
One of the sad parts of Bud Clayton's passing this week won't hit for another year or so. When the Pine Meadow Nursing Home redevelopment project is complete and the ribbon is cut, he won't be there to share in the accomplishment along with a handful of other people who wouldn't let the project fail, even though it took over 10 years of strategising, cajoling and lobbying to get it to the building stage.
Funnily enough, in all the time I covered Bud Clayton's political career, it was the way he handled a funding issue over Pine Meadow while he was mayor of North Frontenac that led to the strongest attack I ever launched against him. And the way he handled that attack told me something about the kind of guy he was.
When Bud became mayor in 2010 he knew he was on shaky ground in continuing as the Chair of the Pine Meadow Management Board. He said at the time that as soon as the redevelopment was approved he would resign from the board. However, 18 months later he was still the Chair of the Management Board and the financing of the redevelopment was slipping away. The only way to salvage the project was for someone or some entity to provide a loan guarantee.
Instead of going to Addington Highlands Council for the loan guarantee Bud went to North Frontenac, and instead of presenting the request and stepping out of the room Bud stayed in his seat, argued in favour of a motion to provide the guarantee, and then voted in favour of it.
I felt I had no choice but to take him to task for what I thought then, as I do now, was a breach of the Municipal Act. The editorial I wrote was pretty harsh.
At the next meeting of North Frontenac Council, I was feeling a little uncomfortable. It is usually a bit frosty at the next meeting after I write that kind of editorial. I sat down and looked at Bud, who looked away. The first item of business, it being early June, was a motion for the township to declare Seniors' Month.
“It is seniors' month," Bud said, looking over to where I was sitting, “so remember out there, be kind to seniors this month.”
Everyone laughed at that, and that was the end of it.
Warden and Mayor Bud Clayton passed away Monday, September 1st
Glenburnie ON – With great sadness, the Township of North Frontenac and the County of Frontenac received news yesterday that Warden and Mayor Bud Clayton passed away on Monday September 1, 2014. Bud was 75 years of age and is survived by his cherished wife of 53 years, Jackie, two sons and beloved grandchildren.
Bud has been involved in municipal politics in the Frontenacs since 2000, when he was elected as a Councillor for North Frontenac Township. Elected Mayor of North Frontenac in 2010, Bud became a member of County Council the same year and took on the role of Warden in 2013.
“Bud was an extraordinary man. He loved people and was a committed husband and father. He was dedicated, realistic, community orientated and he touched so many hearts. Bud was a forward thinker and for the betterment of our community, he initiated North Frontenac Council’s first documented Strategic Directions,” says Fred Perry, Deputy Mayor of North Frontenac Township. “He made people smile and brought laughter to their lives. He was always there to give a helping hand to anyone and he had such a positive attitude.”
“As a member of County Council, Bud was always articulate in his discussions and worked hard to ensure that residents across Frontenac County received value for their tax dollars,” says Deputy Warden of Frontenac County Denis Doyle. “He always carefully listened to his peers and was pragmatic and logical in his approach to solve issues and create an atmosphere of continuous improvement and team work between staff and County Councillors. Thanks to Bud’s efforts over the past four years, the Frontenacs are a better place.”
Information regarding a funeral service is not yet available.
Addington Highlands Council
Trouble with new fire hall construction in Northbrook
In a verbal report to Addington Highlands Council at their Sept. 2 meeting, Fire Chief Casey Cuddy talked about a disagreement that has emerged with the construction company, Task Force Construction, that is building a new fire hall for the township south of Northbrook. Some other issues with the company have emerged as well.
The dispute has to do with the wiring for an emergency generator at the new hall. To save money the township opted not to have Task Force put in a generator, which they had costed at $30,000 in their bid.
“They are saying that the $30,000 was for the generator and the wiring, and by opting out of one we were opting out of the other,” Cuddy said.
“The specs included the wiring. I think we should get Jewell Engineering to deal with this. That's what we are paying them to do,” said Deputy Reeve Bill Cox.
Members of council also noted that the project has not been proceeding as expected.
“They aren't there today,” said Reeve Henry Hogg, “and some of what I've seen is unusual.”
Hogg said that he saw insulation going in on a wet day.
“They said if the insulation is wet they will pull it out,” Hogg added.
Township to meet with ministry over Official Plan
Addington Highlands' five-year Official Plan review, which has not been ratified by the Ministry of Housing and Rural Affairs two years after it was first submitted, will be the subject of a meeting between the township and the ministry in late September.
The two sides are not close to agreeing on the final wording of the document.
“They are putting restrictions on waterfront lots in their wording, restrictions on hamlets; the whole document they are putting forward will tie our hands,” said Reeve Hogg.
“It looks like this review won't be complete until we have to start our next five-year review,” he added.
Grading, grass cutting have something in common.
Deputy Reeve Bill Cox reported that the library board has complained about the lawn mowing in front of the two libraries. “The boy gets heck if he cuts it too early, or if he cuts it too late. They need more things to think about.”
In his own report, Public Works Manager Royce Rosenblath said he “knows how the grass cutter feels. You grade the roads too much for some people, not enough for others. Everybody complains,” he said.
On a more ominous note, Rosenblath reported that winter sand is being delivered to the Denbigh garage.
“Winter is coming,” he said.
North Frontenac Council – September 2
Dark Skies and Helipad in conflict -
The Dark Skies initiative, a cornerstone of the economic development plans of North Frontenac Township, is facing a new hurdle. At the most recent Dark Skies event in early August, participants arriving at the North Frontenac Star Gazing Pad on Road 506 saw lights that they were not expecting. A series of green lights were beaming up into the night sky, laid out around the rim of the air ambulance helipad that is located next to the viewing site.
ORNG, the embattled Ontario air ambulance corporation, has decided that all the helipads it uses across Ontario must be lit up at night.
On that August night, volunteers covered the lights with bags, but it was not a long term solution to the issue of light at the dark skies site.
The site is used for star parties put on by the township every few months, and also by star gazers from around the region on any given night.
“I have been contacted by a number of people, from Ottawa and beyond, who say they have heard about the site and have visited it. I have been surprised by how much use it is getting, since it is only its first year,” said Cory Klatt, Manager of Economic Development for the township.
Klatt also said that when the site was being contemplated for the Star Gazing pad, ORNG was approached about whether they had an issue with it being located near the helipad.
“At the time they said they did not intend to put the lights on,” Klatt said. “They had an accident and changed their mind, but there was no problem before that. It is the best site the township has for the Dark Skies initiative.”
A motion, proposed by Councilor Betty Hunter, asked Council to approach ORNG about considering whether night landings could be eliminated at the site on a temporary basis while the possibility of radio controlled lights at the site is explored. The motion also said that keeping the lights on might threaten the township's hard-earned dark skies designation from the Royal Astronomical Society.
Hunter pointed out that the Ompah helipad is not that far away and the 506 pad was only used once in the past year, and that was during the daytime.
“Most of the time the air ambulance goes directly to the location where the call comes from anyway, instead of to the Helipad,” she said.
Others on Council were not convinced.
“Ompah is only a few minutes but a few minutes is a long time in an emergency” said Councilor Gerry Martin.
“The whole thing comes back to not doing enough research in the first place. We run into things without doing research and it ends up costing us money. Nobody should turn off some lights just because someone wants to look at some stars, in my opinion,” said Councilor Wayne Good.
In a 3-2 vote, Hunter's motion was defeated. Lonnie Watkins was the only councilor to support her motion. Councilor John Inglis was not at the meeting.
Township to promote Hydro One program
On the urging of its Energy Task Force, North Frontenac will be publicizing a Hydro One program for low-income homeowners. The Home Energy Program provides a free energy audit as well as new insulation, window caulking and other measures, even providing energy efficient appliances to replace older models.
According to John Kittle, of the task force, the means test that Hydro applies is an annual family income of $39,000 or less for a family of 2, and more for larger households. Information will be posted on the township's website, or go to Hydroone.com and search Home Assistance for details.
Invasive Species – Zebra Mussels don't like NF lakes
Councilor Gerry Martin, the township representative to the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA), has been looking into invasive species in North Frontenac lakes. He reported back that the spiny flea is a problem, but one species that is less of a concern is the zebra mussel.
“They don't make it to maturity in the Canadian Shield lakes apparently,” said Martin.
The MVCA has put up invasive species signs and information about how to clean boats at township boat launches.
South Frontenac Council
Rutledge Road Project
According to Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth, the Rutledge Road reconstruction through Sydenham is proceeding on schedule.
Gail Dickenson is co-proprietor with her husband Gary of Hillside Coffee Company, the only street front business on a road that has been reduced to rocks, dirt and dust by the project. Ms Dickenson came as a delegation to Council to ask for some compensation for loss of business this summer, due to the roadwork past their small restaurant/coffee shop, “to help us get through the winter.” She said that most commuters now choose to leave the village via Stagecoach Road, greatly reducing passing trade. Ice cream sales have dropped 70%, “because families won’t come sit out front to eat their ice cream in a dustbowl”, and now that school has begun, neither students nor teachers are likely to be coming up the road for lunch.
Dickenson presented records showing that revenues had dropped by $8,000 over July and August, and they expect to lose much of the $4,000 or $5,000 they usually make in September. Normally, these are their three strongest business months.They have had to cut back staff shifts, causing hardship to employees, as well.
Mayor Davison said this issue will have to be discussed in camera, so Council could not offer a quick answer.
Lottery Licensing
The Municipal Council is delegated by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission (AGCO) as the licensing authority for small lottery-related events such as Bingos, 50/50 draws, raffles with prizes under $50,000, and Bazaar gaming events. Presently, the township charges 1.5% of the prizes, to cover administration costs. The Corporate Services Committee has recommended that this be raised to 3%. After some discussion, Council voted to hold the charge at 1.5%, except in the case of out-of-township lotteries, which will now be charged 3%.
Charging of Services related to Motor Vehicle Accidents
Insurance companies will be billed quarterly for all motor vehicle insurable accidents in the township requiring services from fire or public works. Billing amounts will be based on the incurred costs.
Development Charges Increase
Council agreed with Planner Mills’ recommendation that the new development charge increase be phased in over a five-year period. By January 1,1918, the development charge for an average residential permit will have risen from the current $4,551 to $6,758.
Request to Open a Portion of Goodrich St, Bellrock
Kurt Dehnert has asked Council to consider opening a portion of road allowance in Bellrock (the easternmost portion of Goodrich St), to allow access to a large waterfront lot within the original village plan, ‘for possible future development”. Council has asked for further information before making a decision.
Accessible Parking
Council has agreed to designate an accessible parking space directly in front of the township hall.
LED Street Light Conversion
Council agreed with staff’s recommendation to engage RealTerm Energy Corporation to replace all high pressure sodium street lamps in the Township (estimated by Hydro to be 448 lamps) with LED lights. Although the initial cost will be approximately $260,000, the average annual energy and maintenance cost per fixture is projected to be reduced from $177 to $50. Thus, the cost of conversion should be covered in the first 4.4 years of operation.
County’s Official Plan: Draft Three
Township Planner Lindsay Mills spoke briefly but strongly about the current draft of the County’s Official Plan. In Mills’ opinion it is still much too detailed for a high level document; “a power grab.” Mayor Davison concurred, saying, “They (the County staff who prepared the draft plan, and the Provincial government which has directed much of it) have no understanding of the rural situation.”
“This document has huge implications,” said Davison, reminding Council that there is to be a public meeting about the proposed plan on Monday September 22, in the Verona Lions’ Hall.
Next Meeting
Because of Council’s ‘lame duck’ status from now until the elections, their next meeting will be Monday October 7.
Frontenac County Warden Hospitalized in London
North Frontenac Township mayor, Bud Clayton, who is also serving as warden of Frontenac County this year, remained in the Intensive Care Unit at the London Health Sciences Centre after falling ill early last week while attending a meeting of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO).
He has a suspected case of viral meningitis.
Cheryl Robson, the Chief Administrative Officer of North Frontenac Township, said that Clayton's family is with him.
“He took sick during the AMO meeting and at the hospital they ruled out stroke and heart attack and they are quite certain it is viral meningitis and are treating it as such,” said Robson.
Early this week, Robson said that Clayton’s condition had improved over the weekend. His fever had dropped and he had been responding to his wife, Jackie Clayton.
Kelly Pender, the Chief Administrative Officer of Frontenac County, was attending the AMO meeting with Clayton. He remained in London after the meeting wrapped up, only returning late in the week after Clayton's family had arrived.
Fred Perry, the deputy mayor of North Frontenac, officiated at a public meeting on a planning matter last Friday, August 23. At the start of the meeting Perry informed the public about Mayor Clayton's health issue.
“Bud is a fighter,” Perry said after the meeting, “he doesn't give in to things.”
Cheryl Robson concurred. “I expect we'll see him back here in a couple of weeks, just as before,” she said.
Viral meningitis is not normally a life threatening illness, in contrast to bacterial meningitis, which often is, according to the Mayo Clinic. The most effective treatment for the disease seems to be time.
“Antibiotics can't cure viral meningitis, and most cases improve on their own in several weeks,” according to the Mayo Clinic website.
Bud Clayton is registered to run for re-election as mayor of North Frontenac. The registration deadline is September 12. There is one other registered candidate for mayor, Claudio Valentini.
Mayor Clayton's term as warden of Frontenac County has three more months to run.
