| Nov 25, 2010


In the final meeting of the current incarnation of Central Frontenac Council, the members kept debating to the end, and their Committee of the Whole meeting extended past its two-hour time frame.

The first item on the agenda was the consideration of a request by Miller Surveying of Stirling to place a receiver on the Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake to complete a precision GPS (Global Positioning System) network in Southern Ontario. The network will provide precise information, within 2-3 centimetres, for business clients, surveyors, or municipalities. The receiver, according to Paul Miller, “is smaller than a shoebox.” Miller added that all that would be required is a high-speed Internet connection and power, which his company would be willing to pay for.

Council had no objections in principle to the idea, but concerns were raised about the location. “I think we should have our IT department look at this and bring back a report,” said Deputy Mayor John Purdon. “Security might be an issue in this hall.”

“The risk is all theirs, not the township’s. If they are comfortable, why should we worry about it?” said Councilor Frances Smith.

Most of council agreed with Purdon, and a staff report will be prepared. The new council, which will meet in mid-December, will consider the matter.

ELECTION SUMMARY – A summary of the recent election was presented to council by Chief Administrative Officer John Duchene, with a request that council consider Internet/telephone voting next time around because of the added burden on township staff that the mail-in system entails.

“An election represents a significant event for the clerk and his/her assistants during the pre-election period and consideration should be given to examining other voting methods for the 2014 election,” Duchene wrote in his report.

The turnout for this year’s election was 46%, down from 51% in 2006. Duchene pegged the cost of the election at $18,484, with an additional $2,000 estimated as the cost of the work time spent by salaried staff in the township office processing ballots and making additions/deletions to the voters’ list in the run-up to the election.

“I heard from several people that the Internet system didn’t work so well in South Frontenac,” said Councilor Bob Harvey. “I like our method of voting.”

“I see no problem investigating other options,” said Councilor John Purdon.

In considering how the recent election went, John Duchene said there were some problems with the preliminary voting list that was supplied by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). “In hindsight, when the list came out we should have dedicated a staff member, or an intern, to go through it carefully,” he said.

“You would think that if MPAC is able to put people on the tax roll they could put them on the voters’ list. We should talk to them about what they are doing,” said Councilor Frances Smith.

ROAD EMERGENCIES

Public Works Manager Mike Richardson reported on two washouts that occurred after heavy rains caused beaver dams to give way. Ardoch Road was closed Wednesday morning, Nov. 17, and re-opened by 4 p.m. to one lane of traffic. It was rebuilt by 4 p.m. the following afternoon.

The Arden Road was closed on the same day, but traffic was only stopped for a short time and the road was completely re-opened by that evening. Both roads will need re-paving next year.

Richardson also brought forward the Echo Lake Road situation. That road washed out during the summer and a temporary repair was done, but that repair is now unstable, and a permanent solution, which calls for two six-foot diameter culverts at a cost of about $170,000, is recommended.

With the council in what is called a ‘lame duck’ status currently, because fewer than ¾ of the current members will be on council as of next month, there was a question as to whether the expenditure could be approved. It is over $50,000 and the project was not in the 2010 budget.

John Duchene pointed out, however, that the township’s procedural bylaw permits the mayor and CAO to approve an emergency expenditure if there is an identified risk involved.

“There is a definite risk here,” Richardson said.

“My position is that we are not going to go to council to approve this,” said John Duchene. “It is something that is being approved by the mayor and myself”.

Given that, council accepted Mike Richardson’s report on emergency road work.

NEW CBO TO BE HIRED – With the death of Ian Trickett, the chief building officer position will be advertised starting next week, with a closing date of December 21. Alan Revill, the CBO of South Frontenac, is covering the job in the interim. Revill was already listed as the township’s Deputy CBO to cover for any illness that might occur, so no change was required for him to step in.

Honing in on Zoningby Julie Druker

A series of public meetings were held to finalize considerations for applications for Zoning By-law amendments.

The first one was for Bridgen’s Island on Eagle Lake, which has been before council on several occasions. The township’s planning consultant Glenn Tunnock brought a letter from Vincent Fabilli of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to council’s at-tention. The letter said, “It is regrettable that this office and our partner ministries have not been appropriately pre-consulted during the preparation of this zoning by-law amendment.”

In response to Fabilli’s complaint Tunnock said, “I did not personally pick up the phone and talk to the ministry because we don’t typi-cally do that and I would not have done it in this particular circumstance because as a profes-sional I believe that what is being proposed is reasonable in this particular circumstance.” He added, “I also want to point out that the prov-ince has never, ever shown their true hand on what they feel about this particular proposal as to whether they think it complies with the Official Plan and the Provincial Policy State-ment and I think they have been unfair to this council.”

Nonetheless Council heeded the ministry’s re-quest and deferred the zon-ing bylaw amendment until a meeting with the ministry can be arranged.

Garrison Shores

Glenn Tunnock made a presentation regarding the condominium application for the Garrison Shores prop-erty development, an issue that has been before council for years. A number of the Garrison Shores lots will ex-tend to the shoreline of Garrison Lake. 

One of the Garrison Shores property owners, Jeff Dubois, addressed council. “The objection that I’ve been making for eight years is that a narrow strip around the shore line should remain part of the common element and I’m here seeking information and would like to clarify once and for all whose decision is it to create lakefront lots at Garrison Lake.”

“The interest of the municipality has always been to protect the water quality of Garrison Lake by imposing certain set back require-ments consistent with the shoreline policies of this municipality,” Glenn Tunnock responded.

Paul Chaves, the presi-dent of the Garrison Shores Association, spoke next and outlined the reasons for the changes to lot sizes over the years. “As a condomin-ium association we hope to finally be able to make this thing work,” he said.

Council passed a resolution to go ahead with the preparation of draft conditions of approval for the Garrison Shores Condominium Development as outlined by Tunnock Consulting. The matter will then be forwarded to the county.

Adieu, Adieu to you and you and you

Council said an official thank you and good-bye to councilors Bob Harvey, Gary Smith and Philip Smith, and Mayor Janet Gutowski presented each with a gift and plaque com-memorating their work on council.

 

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