Central reaches agreement with NFLT over use of Oso Hall

Craig Bakay | Jul 01, 2020

It looks like the tradition of live theatre in Central Frontenac will continue for some time to come following an agreement reached by the North Frontenac Little Theatre (NFLT) and Central Frontenac Council during Council’s Tuesday (online) meeting.

Representing NFLT, Brian Robertson and Jeff Siamon told Council that the theatre company had staged the majority of their productions at Sharbot Lake High School and then Granite Ridge Education Centre for 40 years but users fees at GREC “were overwhelming our small budget.”

Under the agreement, NFLT would gain a “permanent home” at Oso Hall and in return it would provide its lights and some improvements to the facility, as well as live theatre twice a year (spring and fall) and likely youth theatre in the summer.

“We don’t want to be freeloaders,” Robertson said. “We would be putting on children’s theatre and installing our lights (which were at GREC) at Oso, which we are prepared to provide labour for and all electrical connections will be done by a licensed electrician.

“We’re also really keen on installing a new sound system, all of which could be used by other community groups renting the hall.”

He said they would require rehearsal time as well as production time but “we can be extremely flexible if someone wants to rent the hall and we can cancel or reschedule to accommodate most things.”

He said they’re aware that Provincial Court meets the third Monday of each month in the hall.

Under the agreement, the hall rental fee would be waived (in the form of a grant from the Township) but in the event NFLT manages to make any profits, they would be prepared to “make a contribution towards heat and hydro.”

Robertson suggested NFLT was also prepared to become part of the Rec Committee but Mayor Frances Smith said they didn’t suggest that because then all the theatre group’s finances would have to go through the Township and the Township’s insurance company wasn’t keen to add on any more liabilities.

“I don’t think it would be in the best interests of NFLT either,” said Coun. Brent Cameron. “Because if it were part of the rec committee, it would be under the Township’s governance and you’d lose a lot of your independence.”

The lights will likely be installed this summer in conjunction with the new ceiling planned for the hall and Coun. Sherry Whan volunteered to be Council’s liaison with the group.

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Council passed a motion that would allow it to transition its blue box program to full producer responsibility by January 2023.

Public Works Manager Tyson Myers said “a lot of us public works mangers feel the same way that there are a lot of unanswered questions and how it will be modelled is still unclear but we’re excited for producers to take more responsibility for the recyclable materials they produce and the sooner the better.”

Myers said there is a rumour circulating that some producers might not want to include municipalities smaller than 5,000 population but there is also talk of municipalities partnering up to reach the required population.

“It’s moving target,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “We’ve been talking about it for 20 years so time will tell.”

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Council approved the spending of $615,732 to Gemmill Sand & Gravel Ltd. to provide work and materials for the reconstruction of Henderson, Arden and Oak Flats Roads. The three roads were pulverized in the fall of 2019 but require attention to such things as culvert replacements, ditching and rock removal before surface treatment can be placed on them.

There was sufficient money set aside in the 2020 capital budget for the projects, which are scheduled for September.

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Council approved $434,309 for the purchase of a new pumper for the fire department. The new pumper should be delivered in 10-12 months.

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Council approved transferring the K & P Trail lands from just north of Sharbot Lake to the border with North Frontenac either by way of conveyance, lease or licence to Frontenac County in order to secure grants under the Rural Economic Development Program for trail enhancements.

“We’ll want something in the agreement to acknowledge where the trail goes through private property to ensure prior use as it exists today,” said Coun. Bill MacDonald. “There are people who use those lands to access their vacation properties.”

“That’s why we’re looking at leasing or licencing it to the County, so we can maintain control,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

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Council has only one meeting scheduled for each of July and August, which will be virtual.

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Coun. Bill MacDonald proudly announced that he’s getting a haircut on Friday.

“It’s our (with wife Sharon) 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday,” he said. “We were planning a party but I guess that will have to wait until the 51st.”

“Well, the least you can do is look presentable,” said Coun. Brent Cameron.