Central Frontenac Council - Jan 8/13

Jan 10, 2013

Central Frontenac loses another CAO

Cathy MacMunn was appointed as acting Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Central Frontenac in a special council meeting that took place on December 20. She replaced CAO/clerk Shawn Trepanier, who had been absent from the position for a number of weeks leading up to the Christmas holidays. On the same day that MacMunn was appointed, the township received a formal letter of resignation from Trepanier.

At the regular meeting of Central Frontenac Council on Tuesday (January 8) Mayor Janet Gutowski said that MacMunn will fill the position until further decisions can be made about finding a new permanent CAO. Asked about details regarding Trepanier's resignation Mayor Gutowski said, “He did not disclose many details but he had been hired as a new person coming from out of the area and that was our one reservation. We were never entirely sure how long he would stay on.”

Shawn Trepanier is the 5th CAO to resign the position in the past 6 years. The others were Heather Fox, John Duchene (twice) and Mark Hall.

CF Budget 2013

Treasurer Michael McGovern requested that council give staff direction regarding the tax rate increase that they would like to see in this year's budget. Staff will be bringing back preliminary numbers at their January 22 meeting. In terms of background, McGovern reported that inflation in Ontario is currently at 1% per year. McGovern also presented some troubling numbers about the state of the township's infrastructure. He said that last year, as in previous years, capital spending by the township, at just over $1 million, covers only 23% of the amortization cost of the aging roads and bridges within the township.

Nonetheless, Council asked staff to keep the budget in tight check.

Councilor Norm Guntensperger said that he supported a 0% increase or even a decrease in tax rates. Councilor Tom Dewey did not disagree but said that a more realistic number might be about 2%. Dewey also suggested looking at user fees and generating more income for hall rentals.

Non resident charged with illegal garbage dumping in CF

In his report, public works manager Mike Richardson reported to council that a non-area resident had been charged and fined $625 for the illegal dumping of six bags of garbage in the township after a by law enforcement officer identified the culprit from a name and address found in the bags.

Richardson also reported that he has received a number of complaints about snow clearing in recent weeks. He said that he was aware of the complaints and will be dealing with them in a timely fashion. He and his crew had their hands full clearing and sanding roads and also managed to remove excess snow from local area businesses in Sharbot Lake, Parham and Arden over much of the holiday season.

Council supports SLFM application to county

Council unanimously supported an application by the Sharbot Lake Farmers Market to Frontenac County for a proposed $17,500 in improvements to the their Oso beach location that will improve the landscape around the pavilion, the parking area and the beaches public washroom facilities. The application asked for council to cover $2500 of the costs with the county reimbursing council for the remaining $15,000.

Dog Tag fees increased

Council passed a motion to increase the fee for a dog tag from $9 to $12 , $3 less than the proposed increase to$15

Firehouse Software Application approved

Council approved, at a cost of up to $2,348, fire house software that will enable multiple users to connect at one time.

Council rejects conditions behind CFDC grant

Sue Leslie asked council to support an application to the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) for $5,000 for an engineering study to establish the structural integrity of the soon to be vacated Hinchinbrooke School in Parham. Leslie represents the group that seeks to turn the school into a community centre.

However, the CFDC said they will only approve the grant if council passed a motion indicating that they intend to purchase the building if the study indicates that the school is structurally sound.

After much discussion council decided not to make that commitment, and the grant will not be forthcoming.

Council did agree to officially ask the Limestone District School Board for any of the building reports they have done for Hinchinbrooke PS in recent years.