All Agree - Matthew Street ‘Never To Be Mentioned’ In Council Again

Craig Bakay | May 17, 2023

The saga of Matthew Street in Sharbot Lake may have finally come to a close at Central Frontenac Township Council’s May 9 meeting in Sharbot Lake.

When the Township embarked on extensive roadwork in downtown Sharbot Lake, the short little Matthew Street, which connects Elizabeth Street and Oso Beach, was at one time slotted to be one way. Amid public opposition, it was proposed that the one-way designation be restricted to the summer months, when the street has much less pedestrian traffic. However, that didn’t sit too well with the public either and was eventually scrapped.

All that was left was to decide on signage for pedestrians because the street does not have a sidewalk.

Council directed Public Works Manager Tyson Myers to come back with a report that would list options for signage.

But, in the words of Mayor Francis Smith, “nobody picked an option.”

“I would rather none of the options,” said Councillor Bill Everett. “I personally would prefer no sign or a sign that does not suggest the Township is taking any responsibility for the actions of pedestrians or vehicles and something like a trail sign does not suggest any responsibility.

“But it is a road,” said Smith. “There’s official liability (and) I don’t think we can just call it a trail.

Everett noted that the Township does have many roads that have no signs referring to pedestrians.

“But this one is different in that it is in the village and it’s well trafficked with people in all sorts of carriers,” said Smith.

Councillor Craig Middleton asked what was wrong with the first option suggesting a “Watch for Pedestrians” sign.

“Those are usually used when you’re coming up to a pedestrian crosswalk or bus stop,” said Myers. “The more we say it’s ok for pedestrians to use the more we open ourselves to liability.”

“So, do we have to have a sign?” said Councillor Nicki Gowdy.

“I’m fine with that (no sign),” said Myers. “As long as we never mention Matthew Street in Council again.”

Middleton suggested perhaps a stop sign on the Trail at Matthew for traffic coming from Road 38.

He said that would give right of way to traffic coming down Wing Crescent and the Trail coming from the government docks.

“An all-way stop is the first thing that comes to mind,” said Myers.

That would put stop signs on the K & P Trail in both directions, Wing Crescent and the bottom of Matthew Street.

“Let’s do that then,” said Smith.

Council opted for all-way stop signs at the bottom of Matthew Street.

With that, the great Mathew Street controversy came to an end

Parking on Road 38 at Cardinal Cafe

Council directed staff to come back with suggestions following “numerous complaints” of people parking in the no-parking zone adjacent to 14154 Rd. 38 (the Cardinal Café) in Sharbot Lake.

“As somebody who doesn’t sit very high in her car, you can’t see,” said Mayor Francis Smith.

4-day week for Public Works in summer

Following a unanimous straw vote of some 15 - 20 public works employees to leave things as they are, Council voted 6-3 to leave Public Works hours at Monday to Friday (40 hours) from Nov. 1 to March 31 and Monday to Thursday (4-10 hour days) from April 1 to Oct. 31.

Bank Hours

Council approved the drafting of a letter to the Royal Bank asking them to reconsider its reduction in ‘in-person’ hours at the Sharbot Lake Branch. The branch is now open 3 days a week. It was previously open from Monday-Friday. The letter says that Council believes the reduction may lead to further reductions in hours or a closure which would be detrimental to our businesses and community.

“I’ve been there on days when they’re closed and heard people say that if they closed, they’d open an account in Perth and do their shopping there,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

CAO/Clerk Cathy MacMunn said that the impending closure of the Bank of Montreal branch in Northbrook started with reduced hours.