The Sydenham Golden Eagles senior girls volleyball is off to Streetsville (Mississauga) March 5-7 for the AA provincial championship following their EOSSAA championship last week in Brockville.

The KASSAA champs went into the EOSSAA championship as the No. 1 seed following an undefeated season in the KASSAA loop.

“Sometimes being the top seed isn’t the best thing,” said head coach Bryan English. “But it worked out for us as we went 2-0 in pool play beating Gananoque and Carleton Place in 2-straight each.

“We followed that by beating Fellowes High School of Pembroke in the semis 2-straight.”

Sydenham then met Carleton Place in the final and it was touch and go in the early play.

“They were up 16-14 at one point,” English said. “But then we came back.

“The second game was our best of the year. We won that one 25-11 and got everybody into the game.”

The Golden Eagles are led by striker Robin Melnick, Grace Finucan and setter Jocelyn Miles.

South Frontenac won’t be appealing an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) Ruling that struck down its Zoning Bylaw (Bylaw 2016-36) in its entirety earlier this month, Council decided at its regular meeting Tuesday night in Sydenham.

Emerging from a closed meeting with its legal representation, Council tendered a motion to appeal the OMB ruling but it was defeated 5-4 (Coun. Norm Roberts, Mark Schjerning, Ron Sleeth, Ross Sutherland and Mayor Ron Vandewal voted against in a recorded vote).

In the short term, Township staff will be scrambling to find answers for residents wanting things like demolition permits, building permits and such but the longterm implications might be anybody’s guess.

“From a staff perspective and a big picture point of view, the township will revert to the previous language of the zoning bylaw,” said CAO Wayne Orr. “But staff will not be able to apply is as it has been for the past 14+ years.

“This is not the same as saying we will revert back to the way it was.”

The main point for the OMB ruling pertains to language that effectively prevented owners of grandfathered properties close to waterbodies from rebuilding and/or renovating, even in the event of such a building being destroyed by a natural disaster. It would certainly appear that owners can now again rebuild within the same footprint.

The hearing cost the townships $46,464, which Sutherland felt was excessive.

“That cost seems high for two days as we had another two-day hearing that cost $25,000 and the Hartington subdivision hearing cost $100,000 for nine days,” Sutherland said.

“What will the process be for explaining this (what the rules are now) to the public,” said Coun. John McDougall. “It’s still confusing to me.”

Orr said that they would endeavor to inform the public but first they needed to have a meeting of the Corporate Services Committee to determine exactly what the ramifications of the ruling actually are and how the Township will apply them.

Shooting range application withdrawn
Council had no comments on an email dated Feb. 14 in which Steve Saunders withdrew his request for a private shooting range on his Scanlan Road property. Saunders said another opportunity has presented itself “to fire any class of firearm legally.”

Desert Lake noise exemption
Council formally approved four dates suspending the noise bylaw from 7:30pm to 10:30pm in which “amplified music” would be allowed at the Desert Lake Campground this summer.

Coun. Ross Sutherland said he hoped that the township would take the opportunity to convey the “context of the motion” to the new owners of the property.

“Our planning department had a list of things they were going to do to work with the campground but they didn’t do them,” Sutherland said.

Mayor Ron Vandewal agreed that township representatives should work things out with the campground owners because of past incidents.

“I want it to work for them,” Vandewal said. “But they need to know there are consequences to some actions.”

The 70 cent solution
Dep. Mayor Pat Barr noted that there have been “a couple” of incidences where $0.70 has been invoiced for the purchase of single pens, asking if that was the most efficient way to conduct business.

“I think they just put those in there to see if you’re reading the accounts payable,” joked Mayor Ron Vandewal.

Over 1,000 served
While nobody actually took attendance at Monday’s Family Day gathering in Piccadilly, Coun. Norm Roberts reported that they went through over 500 hot dogs and 500 hamburgers.

South Frontenac Council had no objections to the concept of four amplified music events at Desert Lake Campground this year at its regular Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday night in Sydenham but have suggested a 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. timeframe rather than the 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. that the campground owners had requested.

The dates in question are July 1, July 14, Aug. 4 and Aug. 28.

Last year, Council granted exemptions from the Noise Bylaw for four events with the stipulation that the dates be forwarded three weeks in advance, be subject to assessment by Bylaw Services and be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

While there were no complaints registered, there was a suggestion that one of the events lasted beyond 10 p.m.

Coun. John McDougall told the 7:30 to 10:30 time was a compromise solution suggested by the Lake Association.

“This is a business that has been there for 50 years, log before many people on the lake got their little piece of heaven,” said Mayor Ron Vandewal. “I don’t know why we would want to penalize them without any concerns.

“(But) it has to be made clear to them that if there are complaints and they come back to us next year, we will be stricter.”

A resident’s request to buy a road allowance on the edge of his property will have to wait until Frontenac Provincial Park has a chance to decide how the road allowance relates to its new management plan.

The road allowance in question leads from shore to shore (of Big Clear Lake and Milk Lake) and is only accessed by a private lane and private land. Township policy related to the sale would result in a total price of about $42,730.

Coun. Mark Schjerning advocated for the sale to be approved, arguing that there was a chance Park policies could change and the Township would receive no money for the land.

Planner Lindsay Mills said that there was also a possibility the land could be split down the middle with one side each getting half.

“But if we do decide to sell, we’d have to ask the neighbours as we would with any such sale and the Park abuts the land,” Mills said.

Coun. Brad Barbeau said the Park has had six months to voice any objections and there was a limit to how long a landowner should have to wait for a decision.

Mayor Ron Vandewal said he and CAO Wayne Orr had met with the Park superintendent who told them he had to wait for a decision from his superiors.

Council decided to wait until that happened but also put a 90-day deadline to hear back from Park officials.

• • •

Mayor Ron Vandewal told Council that the new drug store in Inverary is scheduled to open Feb. 20.

In December, Council reviewed a request from Steve Saunders, of Scanlon Road south of Sydenham, for a letter confirming: a) the Township has no objection to his establishing a private shooting range on his (75 acre) property, and b) there is nothing in the Township’s by-laws which would prevent this use. Private shooting ranges fall under the jurisdiction of the Federal Firearms Act which is administered by the Chief Firearms Officer, of the Provincial Ministry of Community Safety and Corrections.

Although not required to, Council decided to hold a public meeting for feedback from residents before proceeding: tonight’s meeting was advertised for four weeks in this newspaper, and on the township’s website. On January 09, Saunders came to COW to try to clarify the nature of his request.

Approximately 60 people, including three children, attended the meeting, and 17 made presentations. Mayor Vandewal opened the public meeting by saying that it would follow the same rules as a statutory meeting, ie: presentations should not exceed 10 minutes, presenters need not repeat points that had already been made, and listeners should be respectful of the speakers. All 17 presentations were succinct: 12 were opposed, 5 in favour, and one undecided. As well, several others who did not speak had sent letters, two or three in favour and a couple opposed.

Those opposed cited dreading the noise of day-long firing, danger to children, neighbours and users of the Cataraqui Trail, loss of property value, frightening horses, and overall incompatibility with the rural and tranquil nature of the area.

Councillor Revill, who was not in attendance at the meeting, sent a report which stated that an unapproved ‘range’ (which Saunders had said he had operated for 18 years) was not legal. Saunders clarified this by saying he had used the term “range’ unadvisedly, for that implied the use of restricted firearms. A person is not forbidden to use an unrestricted firearm on his own property for target practice. Revill’s report also said Saunders was not a member of an approved gun club, and therefore could not have a firing range on his property. Saunders is a member of the Canadian Forces Base Club.

Saunders gave a lengthy reprise of his January presentation, which seemed to add to the evening’s confusion. He also called up Constable Snider of the SF OPP, who reconfirmed the correct definition of the term ‘range’ and said that, as an officer of the peace, it was his opinion that although it was legal for a person to discharge a lawful firearm in a safe manner on their own property, “a regulated range, which is subject to routine and unannounced inspections, is the safest option.”

“You could be sent to the principal for this,” quipped Mayor Vandewal, after Saunders refused to wind up his presentation after more than ten minutes. Vandewal asked three questions: Will this be a private range? (‘yes’); Is the range permit transferrable if you sell your property? (‘no’); Will the range be open to the public? (‘no’).

Saunders asked how his initial simple letter had turned into this meeting, and went on to criticize planner Mills for not having publicized the meeting as he would have if it were a planning issue, spoke of the daily noise of the neighbouring sawmill, called Revill’s letter ‘misinformation’, and pointed out that in spite of his having done target shooting for the past 18 years, more and more houses continued to be built in the neighbourhood, so property values seemed not to be dropping.

Councillor Schjerning read a lengthy letter of support for his motion to facilitate Saunders’ request. Councillor Sleeth moved an amendment: “given the concerns raised tonight, (I recommend) we first refer this to the Corporate Services Committee, asking them to contact the Provincial Firearms Officer and our lawyer for clarification.” Sutherland seconded this, and the amendment passed with only Schjerning opposed. Saunders was clearly frustrated by this outcome.

The Corporate Services Committee meets Tuesday Feb 13, in the Council chambers, at 8:30 am. The meeting is open to the public.

Desert Lake Causeway Concerns
Bill Pedersen came with three questions about the Desert Lake Causeway: have the plans been set for the rebuilding of the causeway; might it be possible to replace some of the sand that washed away in the high water this summer; could the township clean up the ‘orphan lot’ at the west end of the causeway, and thus improve sight lines along the causeway? Public Works Manager Segsworth said the work was planned for the fall, but the plans weren’t drawn up, and there was time for public consultation: at present, his department is doing flow calculations on Holleford Lake. Councillor Sutherland reminded Sigsworth that they had talked about adding a sign indicating a portage point for the James Auld waerway. The sand replacement question should go to the Cataraqui Conservation Authority. The “orphan lot’ is a small triangle beside the road on the edge of a marshy part of Holleford Lake. Interestingly, Pedersen said it was originally the site of the Desert Lake dump. Once the dump was abandoned, it had been covered over and a tourist cabin, now derelict, had been built on top. A reminder that we’ve made some big steps from the not too distant days when a wetland was considered the optimum location for a waste site.

For me, a highlight of the Christmas season is taking part in a few of the Christmas Bird Counts held in our area. This year I participated in 3 “CBCs”, as they are known by many – Westport, Frontenac Provincial Park and Sharbot Lake. So how did it go this year? In three words – cold, cold and colder! More on this in a moment.

Christmas Bird Counts go back to 1900, when American ornithologist Frank Chapman proposed a new holiday tradition of having people count living birds in their home towns. Coined the "Christmas Bird Census”, people believed that it could be a fun activity that also contributed to conservation. It caught on, and CBCs are now conducted in over 2000 localities across the Americas.

Christmas Bird Counts are conducted on any one day between December 14 and January 5. They are carried out annually within a 24-km diameter circle that stays the same from year to year. CBCs are usually group events organized at the local level, often by a birding club, naturalists’ organization or simply an enthusiastic group of volunteers. People participate in one of two ways: field observers cover a portion of the count circle on their own or with a small group, counting all birds they find. Feeder watchers count birds at their feeders for a portion of the day.

On the chosen day, field observation teams have 24 hours to identify and count every bird they see or hear in their assigned sector of the circle. At the end of the day, the numbers are compiled, and this information is reviewed and coordinated by Bird Studies Canada, the sponsoring organization in Canada. This data has proven to be very valuable in helping scientists better understand important things like bird distribution and movements and population trends over time.

The big day for the Westport CBC was Friday December 14th. It was cold and windy but sunny, with the thermometer reading about minus 20 when I set out. The mercury rose a little during the day, but the wind became more biting as the day went on. My tally was below normal, with 113 birds representing 12 species, but with several interesting highlights, including a group of 5 Eastern Bluebirds and 2 small flocks of Cedar Waxwings. Overall some 23 intrepid birders and feeder watchers tallied 5,030 birds of 54 different species. Among the most unusual birds were a White-crowned Sparrow at a feeder and a trio of Yellow-rumped Warblers – both very rare sightings during the winter in this area. Blue Jays were back in large numbers this year (at 501), in contrast to last year when they were virtually absent.

Next up was the Frontenac CBC. Coordinated by The Friends of Frontenac Park, the count takes place in a circle that encompasses Frontenac Provincial Park and includes the towns of Sydenham and Verona. Now in its third season, this year’s December 16 count drew 50 participants, many of whom met at the Sydenham Branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library for coffee and a great “Winter Birds 101” workshop. The weather was not unpleasant, with temperatures in the minus 7 to minus 10 range all day under sunny skies and moderate winds – a nice winter day. Participants tallied 3,502 individual birds of 48 different species. Highlights included a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a Common Redpoll, both spotted at Loughborough Lake feeders, and 3 Rough-legged Hawks – all new species for the Frontenac CBC. Birders finished the day with a hearty and well-deserved meal at The Point restaurant in Sydenham. The day’s events also included a CBC for Kids afternoon workshop at Frontenac Park attended by several families. Plus, the Frontenac CBC had its first youth survey team, with seven participants aged 11-16.

Several years ago the Sharbot Lake bird count was revived by the keen and itinerant birder (and expert “pisher”) Andrew Keaveney, making this year’s count, held on January 5, the third consecutive recent count for this circle. The weather was likely the most memorable feature of the Sharbot Lake count day. There’s no way around it, it was brutally cold. Our small but hardy birding party headed out at 9:00 am with the thermometer reading minus 25 with a wind chill of minus 36. Man it was cold! We tallied 13 species and 83 birds, a bit higher than last year but still quite low. The cold weather handicapped us a little – I rely a great deal on my hearing to help me find birds, but the layers of hats and hoods I was wearing (to stay alive) muffled most sounds. Another teammate found the cold weather left his glasses fogged up all morning, so he was operating at less than 100%. And for the first time in my birding career, the exceptional cold made the focus wheel on my binoculars stiff and uncooperative.

At sundown, survivors converged on the Maples Restaurant in Sharbot Lake to thaw out and compare notes. In total 9 field observers and several feeder watchers tallied 1,347 birds of 32 species, including a Northern Goshawk, 2 Black-backed Woodpeckers and a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Several Pine Grosbeaks and Red Crossbills were tallied as well, a pair of species that are not easily found in Frontenac most years. Perhaps the most interesting find was a Brown Thrasher being treated like royalty at a local feeder. Neither the thrasher nor the Red-bellied Woodpecker had ever been recorded on the count before. Bird numbers were down a bit over the long-term average, with the weather (did I say it was cold that day?) having an impact on bird numbers. For example, open water usually yields waterfowl like ducks and geese, but this year open water was very scare.

All of the above CBCs are looking for more volunteers. Anyone who is interested in birds and in spending a winter day looking for them either in the field or from the comfort of their own homes as feeder watchers are invited to join the fun. Those interested in participating in the Sharbot Lake CBC can contact Andrew Keaveney at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more info on the Westport CBC, please contact Wendy Briggs-Jude at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and to join the Frontenac CBC please contact Carolyn Bonta at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Participating in Christmas Bird Counts for me is a bit like a treasure hunt – it’s exciting to seek out new species to add to the daily tally or come across a group of interesting birds like this year’s bluebirds or the 110 Snow Buntings we spotted north of Westport during last year’s CBC. I also get a good deal of satisfaction knowing that our effort and the data we collect is helping to paint a continent-wide picture of the status of our winter birds. Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without looking for birds.

When Council reconvened from a closed session for their regular meeting, CAO Orr announced that they had just accepted Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough’s resignation; after more than 14 years of service for the township, Chesebrough will be leaving at the end of this week.

Later, Orr said this did not come as a surprise; “It’s been in the works for some time now: he did the math, and realized he was eligible.”

On behalf of Council, Mayor Vandewal congratulated Chesebrough, wishing him “many years of health and happiness.”

Council then passed a motion to appoint Terry Gervais as acting fire chief.

Support for Seniors Active Living Centre
Following last week’s presentation by David Townsend of SFCSC, Council moved to allocate 20% of the net annual operating costs to support SFCSC’s proposed Seniors Active Living Centre funding application, to a maximum of $12,000 annually over the next three years in a combination of cash and in-kind services to be negotiated annually with the Township.”

It has been suggested that with the ongoing support of the township, the SFCSC Board may wish to consider inviting a member of Council to sit on their Board.

Tax Sale Policy
Council approved a revised tax sale policy which incorporates the legislative changes from Bill 68. Two related by-laws authorized the treasurer to enter into extension agreements and provided for an administration fee to be charged once the tax sale process is undertaken.

Details about the sale of properties in tax arrears and a flow chart describing the process are available on the Township website, or at the Township office.

Township Granted $80,882 for Commuter Cycling Program
The township’s application through the Public Works department for funding from the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling Program has been successful: it will be applied to one of two projects planned for this coming year: fully paved bike lanes between Harrowsmith and Sydenham, or a bike lane adjoining a pedestrian sidewalk along the south side Bedford Road between the end of George Street and Alton Road in Sydenham. Public Works Manager Segsworth also plans to fit in a bike lane on the north side of Bedford; Mayor Vandewal questioned whether this might narrow a busy stretch of road too much. Segsworth replied that because of the busyness of the road, it was also a very dangerous stretch for bicycles.

Storrington Centre Upgrades
Council directed staff to issue an RFP for improvements to the Storrington Centre, to include a new optic system, accessible washrooms and entrances, kitchen upgrades and a new folding wall. $333,000 has been approved in the 2018 capital budget, for this. Councillor Sleeth thanked the Township’s Public Works staff and the Storrington Recreation Committee for all their help in planning the project.

Back-up Generator for OPP Station
Council has approved purchase of a backup generator to provide overall backup power for the OPP building at Hartington. This had been held up when Councillor Revill questioned whether a second generator was needed. Further investigation showed that the existing generator on site at the OPP station only provides fire pump back-up power for the sprinkler system.

Briefly
On the recommendation of Corporate Services Committee, Council agreed to extend the contract with Frontenac Municipal Law Enforcement Inc. for a further two years from March 1, 2018 to Feb 28, 2020.

The 2018 members to serve on the Committee of Adjustment will be: Al Revill, Ross Sutherland, Brad Barbeau and Ron Sleeth.

There being no further questions for the planner, Council approved the zoning of a new waterfront lot on South Basin of Buck Lake, Loughborough district.

Council adopted the Corporate Services Committee’s recommendation to maintain the Township’s current investment strategy and to issue an RFP for investment advisory services.

A proposed by-law to amend speed limits on Rutledge Road was, on Councillor Revill’s recommendation, referred to the Public Works Committee for discussion.

With tender prices of $74,427, $103,320 and $122,940, South Frontenac Council said no thanks to the contractors bidding on repairs to the steps into Glendower Hall at its regular meeting Tuesday night in Sydenham.

The rejection came on the advice of Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth, who said he believed they could get a much better price if the job were re-tendered in February.

“Our budget for this was $40,000 (in the 2016 Capital budget) and we’re of the opinion that the much higher price reflects the fact that the concrete would most likely have to be heated if the repairs were done in the winter,” Segsworth said. “Prices should be lower in the spring.”

“I had that dream with a fire hall,” said Mayor Ron Vandewal.

However, Segsworth said he didn’t see them getting away with the original price.

“Engineering costs of $1,882.56 have since been spent, leaving a remaining budget of $38,117.44,” he said. “An estimated $20,000 extra will be required to complete this project in the spring of 2018.

“After consulting with the Treasurer, the Parkland Reserve Fund holds sufficient funds to complete this project.”

The project includes a new accessible entrance and upgrades to the steps at the hall.

Segsworth said he didn’t see the steps as a safety issue.

“It’s not much of a safety issue,” he said. “It’s more frustration from the users.

“But they definitely need some work.”

“I’d like to see it in writing that it will be re-tendered in February,” said Coun. Pat Barr. “Because we’ve been waiting for two years now. It could have been done earlier for cheaper.”

“Yes it could have,” said Segsworth. “And I apologize.”

60 km/hr zones in Harrowsmith, Sydenham.
Council voted to reduce speed limits to 60 kph on Township Road 5 (Peter Street) in Harrowsmith between 400 and 700 metre east of the limits of Road 38. A 60 km/hr zone will also be set up from 150 metres east of the Sydenham High School Property in Sydenham (Rutledge Road) to 300 metres east of Township road 9.

During discussion of the bylaw Coun. Mark Schjerning moved the bylaw for the Sydenham section be amended to go from Wheatley Street west to Boundary Road, arguing that the entrance to the medical centre should be included. The amendment was defeated on a tie (4-4) vote.

“It seems to me there was a councilor who didn’t want to see things come to Council until they’d gone through the Public Works Committee and Committee of the Whole,” said Mayor Ron Vandewal. “I think it’s a pretty ‘easy’ way to get things to Council by creating a Facebook page. Although it seemed there were just as many against extending the speed zone as for it.”

MNRF invited to Council
Council passed a motion to invite a representative from the MNRF to Council in order to explain the benefit permit process as it relates to the Johnston Point development.

Year in review
Once again CAO Wayne Orr presented his Year in Review to Council that recognizes the volume of issues that have come before Council in the year as well as celebrating the successes and looking forward to the upcoming year.

In 2017, there were 23 Council meetings, 17 Committee of the Whole meetings, totaling 67 hours.

There were 23 Notices of Motion, 38 public delegations, 23 public meetings, 82 planning reports, 30 procurement reports and Coun. Brad Barbeau was sworn in to replace the late Bill Robinson (for whom a road was named in Harrowsmith).

This was also the first year the Township experienced no property sales for back taxes.

Gord Rodgers of French Planning Services and Bill Peairs, Chair of Sydenham Lake Association, presented Council with the final version of the Sydenham Lake Plan, which was developed over the past two years. An attractive readable 31 page document, its overall goal is to “identify and protect the significant social, natural and physical features that make the lake and its surrounding area a healthy natural environment and a desirable place for people to live and visit.”

Of the 52 recommended actions in the plan, Rodgers focussed on the 11 that were relevant to the Township. (At least one of these, the protection of the dark sky, is already under implementation, with the upgrading of Sydenham streetlights.)

The final recommendation was that a working group be established, with representatives from the Lake Association, the Township and the Cataraqui Regional Conservation Authority (CRCA). This group would meet annually to “guide the plan and its actions into the future.”

Rodgers thanked the Township and the CRCA for their support and encouragement, and said that money from the Ministry of the Environment’s Source Water Protection Fund had made the plan possible.

(The complete plan is currently available in draft form on the SLA website).

In answer to Councillor McDougall’s query about possible sources of funding for other Township Lake Associations to do similar Lake Plans, Rodgers said it was very difficult. However, he did suggest that a more modest plan could probably be achieved without the help of a consultant, if there were volunteers willing and able to do the necessary work.

Proposed Shooting Range in Portland District
Council was asked to consider approval of a private shooting range proposed by Scanlon Road resident Stephen Saunders.

Private shooting ranges fall under the jurisdiction of the Chief Firearms Officer of the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, and are strictly controlled and monitored bi-annually. One of the conditions for establishing a range is a letter from the local municipality sating ; a) that the Municipality has no objection to the range, and b) the range would not contravene any municipal by-laws relating to the use of the range and discharging of firearms. Planner Lindsay Mills notes that there is nothing in the Township’s zoning by-law, or the provincial Planning Act that would prevent the use.

Council was unanimous in its agreement that it was important to notify neighbours of the proposal, so they would have the opportunity to speak to Council if they had concerns. CAO Orr said that there was no established process for this, and Council again agreed that he should follow the same timeline and notification protocol used for severance applications.

Recruitment Woes
South Frontenac Township is currently without a Manager of Development Services (MDS), or a Chief Building Official. The position of MDS was recently created, in response to increasing development pressures and the stated goal of seeking delegated authority to approve subdivisions and plans of condominium by 2018. The first round of recruitment was unsuccessful, and in the second round, Forbes Symon was hired. However, after six months, Mr Symon left this September for a similar position in Perth, where he lived. To date, no suitable replacement has been found.

Before re-advertising in the new year, Mayor Vandewal suggested Council might wish to discuss whether they even wanted to continue with the recently-created position.

The answer was clear. “It was a great advantage, having a Development Services Manager for six months. It would be a mistake to lose sight of that” (Sutherland); “That position offered comfort and confidence”, (McDougall); “The Development Services Manager brought strength and breadth of experience - it’s hard to have lost that,” (Schjerning). The rest of Council were equally supportive of continuing to recruit for the position.

The Building Department has had what Orr calls “a chronic problem” keeping anyone in the position of Chief Building Official since Councillor Alan Revill retired from the job in early 2012. Since then there have been three full-time hires and four Acting CBO’s appointed in between: most recently, Ryan Arcand left in November after eleven months as CBO to return to the City of Kingston. Staff are currently interviewing applicants. In spite of a seasonal drop in demand, the remaining building official is not able to keep up with the workload. Orr summarizes: “staff are also exploring other creative options on how to deliver service, however, it is premature to comment on their feasibility or possibility.”

(TOWNSHIP OF SOUTH FRONTENAC, ON)- On December 6, 2017 at approximately 6:25 p.m., the Frontenac detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a two vehicle head-on collision on Sydenham Road and Horning Road in South Frontenac Township.

A white Ford SUV heading northbound on Sydenham Road collided head- on with a southbound white Kia motor vehicle.

The two drivers were the sole occupants in their vehicles and were both transported to hospital with serious injuries.

Preliminary investigation indicates no alcohol/drugs as a factor.

The OPP Technical Collision Investigators (TCI) attended the scene to assist with the investigation.

Police are requesting for any witnesses that may have observed the collision to contact the Frontenac OPP Detachment at 1-888-310-1122.

- 30 -

Contact:Provincial Constable Roop Sandhu

Phone: 613-532-0247

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

www.opp.ca

TWITTER: @OPP_ER or @PPO_Est

South Frontenac Council approved and adopted its 2018 budget at its regular meeting Tuesday night in Sydenham.

The Township will be collecting from $19,129,719, 2.92% more than the $18,586,507 it collected in 2017.

However, the Treasury department met the target set for them by Council. That target is based on a hypothetical average property value in the township, which would be worth $256,000 in 2017. That average property, which would have gone in assessed value up by $4,000 in 2017, would see an increase of 2% in township taxes, a little over $30.

This is just for the township. portion of the tax bill, which also includes Frontenac County taxes and School Board taxes. The final budget will not be approved until April, but with the township budget approcval this week, staff has a budget to work under from the start of the year on January 1st.

The biggest item in the budget is roadway maintenance at over $13 million followed by fire protection at over $3 million, policing at over $3 million and solid waste management at $2,7 million.

The lone dissenting vote against the budget came from Coun. Ross Sutherland.

“The proposed budget should not be supported because it is a budget of missed opportunities,” Sutherland said. “It fails to move forward on community development and engagement, it is not expanding resources to combat invasive species and climate change and it has fallen back on making important policy through back room compromises rather than publicly accountable debate.”

However, Mayor Ron Vandewal seemed quite pleased with the budget and praised staff.

“I’ve been through lots of budgets and they’re never fun,” Vandewal said. “Like that recent one at County.

“But staff bent over backwards and brought us a budget at 2 per cent like we asked for.”

Fermoy Hall, a “charming little building” - Barbeau
Coun. Brad Barbeau had served notice of motion that Council not proceed with any work on Fermoy Hall regardless of the funding source until the Heritage Committee met and made recommendations to Council.

But after touring the hall, Barbeau said he had a change of heart and withdrew his motion.

“I went to see Fermoy Hall and it’s a charming little building,” Barbeau said. “The Heritage Committee will be meeting in January and we’ll be discussing it.”

There is an allocation for work at the Hall in the 2018 budget and a note that a Trillium Grant has been applied for. There is a hold on the project pending the funding and direction from Council.

Inverary Lake zoning approved
Council passed a bylaw changing the zoning of a non-waterfront lot to be severed off a waterfront lot on Inverary Lake to Rural.

There had been opposition from the Inverary Lake Residents Association to the severance with concerns that this was only the first step towards a subdivision or plan of condominium development in the area and third reading of the bylaw was held up to address public concerns but Planner Lindsay Mills said this was the third and final lot to be severed from the original property.

“Do we know that this will come back as a condominium?” said Mayor Ron Vandewal. “No we don’t.

“But if it does, there will be conditions.”

Johnston Point species at risk issues left to County
Council decided not to petition the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to deny a proposed benefit permit to a development on Johnston Lake as requested by the Battersea Loughborough Lake Association.

The Association contends that only two of six species at risk (Blanding’s turtle and grey rat snake) have been addressed and there are four more (including the eastern whip-poor-will and three species of bats) species that should be examined before allowing the development to proceed.

Several councilors felt that the matter was now before Frontenac County and the County should be the ones to make such comments to the Environmental Registry 013-1130.

Coun. Alan Revill said he believed the Township “should not be commenting” but did file notice of motion to contact the MNRF to come to Council to explain its procedures.

Coun. John McDougall said that since the matter was before the County “it would be inappropriate for us (as a Township) to comment.”

“But any councilor may comment as an individual just as any resident can,” said Mayor Ron Vandewal.

Only Coun. Ross Sutherland voted in favour of the Township commenting.