Central Frontenac Council - Mar. 8/11

Jeff Green | Mar 10, 2011

Central Frontenac facing 13.7% tax increase

Central Frontenac Council went over the Fire, Public Works, and Planning Department budgets with senior staff in some detail at a budget session this week, but they did not get down to making any cuts to the various proposed expenditures.

Efforts to cut the budget may come at the next session on March 22, or at subsequent meetings in April.

As it stands now, the proposed budget calls for $5.77 million in taxation this year, up by $700,000 or 13.7% from 2010, a year which also saw a double digit increase for local services in Central Frontenac.

Among the items discussed in the fire budget was a new $250,000 tanker, which is being purchased over time. $60,000 will be paid towards it this year. Council also put $15,000 aside, to be funded through surpluses in other budgets or reserve funds if there are no surpluses, towards a new fire hall in Parham.

Knowing there was a budget problem, Township Chief Administrator John Duchene asked Public Works Manager Mike Richardson to trim $850,000 from the public works budget. Richardson did this by deferring a planned culvert project in Crow Lake and the purchase of two tandem trucks. Richardson had already informed council that he was not planning on taking on any large road projects this year, focusing instead on equipment replacement. The budget still includes two backhoes, and equipment to repair pot holes on surface treated roads.

In his notes on the budget, John Duchene accounted for $622,000 of the $700,000 increase. Increased costs for inflation ($135,000), a deficit carried over from 2010 ($210,000), a reduction in provincial operating grants ($128,000), and increases in insurance premiums and loan payments ($64,000 each) are the largest items.

“Are we headed in the direction?” asked CAO Duchene.

At least one councilor did not think so.

“This is not acceptable,” said Councilor Norm Guntensperger, “not even close to it. I think we need to aim way lower than that. At least that’s my opinion.”

Clear bags coming to Central Frontenac Waste Sites

Clear bags, which are being touted by the township’s Waste Management Committee as a way to increase recycling levels, were approved by the Central Frontenac Committee of the Whole this week.

Some details may change when the clear bag provision comes to council as part of a comprehensive waste management bylaw later this month, but as of now the township plans to sell the bags at local outlets. The bags will include the township logo, and the township will stop selling bag tags.

“One of the advantages of doing it this way is that it will bring full time and seasonal residents to local stores, and while they are there they might purchase milk or bread, all of which is good for the local economy,” said Mayor Gutowski, who supported the proposal.

John Purdon, a member of the Waste Management Committee, said that over the last three years the township has recovered an average of 221 tons of recyclable material per year out of 1650 tons of waste, a 13% diversion rate.

“This puts us way behind several of our neighbours, such as North Frontenac, Addington Highlands, Stone Mills and Westport, all of which use clear bags. The diversion goal in Ontario is 60%. We’ve got a long way to go,” said Purdon.

“The problem I have is that unless we are going to police clear bags then all we are doing is trying to guilt the people into recycling. People won’t change their ways unless there is some penalty. I would like to support this but until now it has only looked like change for the sake of change,” said Councilor Frances Smith.

“The reality is that you are trying to get 90% compliance with this kind measure. There are always 10% who just don’t care, but I tell the dump attendants not to get discouraged because the 90% can make a difference,” said Public Works Manager Mike Richardson.

While Frances Smith and Deputy Mayor Tom Dewey both expressed their misgivings about the plan, when it came to a vote everyone supported it.

The roll out of clear bags could take a year.

The comprehensive waste management bylaw has been in the works for several years.

Golf course and complex proposed for Hollywood Farm

by Julie Druker

Sharbot Lake resident Rudy Hollywood and his business associate Rick Beasley presented to council Mr. Hollywood's hopes of developing the 150-year-old, 200 acre Hollywood family farm located at the corner of Road 38 and Shibley Road near Sharbot Lake into an “active lifestyle adult housing complex and 18 hole golf course”.

In a letter to council Mr. Hollywood outlined his desire to “create a lasting legacy for the Hollywood family while also supporting the community with a development that would be a major attraction for golfers and tourists ...and one that would also offer alternative housing to those wishing to retire to and/or remain in Central Frontenac.”

Beasley said to council that the development would not only attract people from all over Canada to the area but would also create a number of long and short term jobs in the community and would greatly benefit existing local businesses as well as the township through a newly created group of tax payers.

In order to pursue research into the development, Mr. Hollywood has formed the Hollywood Legacy Corporation and as its president came to council not just to inform them of his proposal but also to request their consideration in making a section of township-owned land adjacent to the Hollywood property available to him. He added that the purchased lands would not be used for homes but either for the golf course, storage and/or maintenance facilities.

Following the presentation Councilor Purdon pointed out that the Crow Lake waste site is located near the property under consideration.

“The waste site requires a 500 meter zone of influence around it that would have to be respected. An environmental assessment and or impact study will be required before any development can take place,” he said

Mayor Gutowski said more information will definitely be required but overall she is impressed with the proposal and the potential it holds for jobs, revenues and additional housing in the township.

Council passed a motion accepting the information and requesting that staff be directed to obtain an opinion from the municipal planner and waste site engineering consultants regarding the feasibility of the use of the township-owned lands adjacent to the Hollywood property.

Lane Name Change

After considering a number of options put forth by CAO John Duchene regarding the renaming of Waller Lane and Conner Road. A proposal to rename Waller Lane, Waller/Conner Lane was defeated in a 4-4 vote. Council then put forth a second motion - to keep the current name, Waller Lane. This was passed, ending an 8-year debate. Mayor Gutowski stated that council’s decision was made primarily to meet emergency services safety concerns.

Solar Panel Project Proceeds

Council passed a motion to proceed with the preparation of an RFP for the installation of a $70,000 10kWh micro-FIT solar panel project on the District 3 fire hall. The project will carry on independently of the 2011 budget and potential financing arrangements, including grants are to be pursued for the project. The pay back period is estimated at 6 years with an annual return of $12,000 and with Hydro One paying 80.2 cents/kWh.

New Chief Building Official appointed

Jeremy Neven was officially appointed as the township’s new chief building official. He lives in Battersea and has been working for Tackaberry Construction where his most recent position was as head of the company’s design team.