Central Frontenac Council - Feb. 25

Jeff Green | Feb 26, 2014

Bill Snyder dies at 65

Bill Snyder, who has served on Central Frontenac Council since 2001, after over 20 years on Hinchinbooke Council before amalgamation, died last week in hospital. He had been suffering from complications related to Diabetes. a life-long farmer, Snyder's attitude towards municipal politics can be summed up in a quorte from him during the 2010 election. 

“I strictly believe in fairness and everybody getting along and getting things done across the township,” he said, “but the way it is right now you have to speak up for your corner, because you might be forgotten otherwise. And, those are the people who voted for you in the first place. You have to represent them.”

Central Frontenac to raise hall rental fees, close Piccadilly Hall

At their meeting on Tuesday, Central Frontenac Council made the decision to close and/or sell the Piccadilly Hall.

The future of the rarely used Piccadilly Hall has been talked about for a number of years, and through a twist of fate the decision to close it came just days after the death of the hall’s staunchest advocate, Councilor Bill Snyder.

The decision came after Council received a report from a committee that was struck to look at the future of all the township halls and recommend changes to Council.

In addition to recommending the closing of the little-used hall at the southern edge of the township, the committee recommended standardising the cost of renting the three remaining township halls, Olden Hall in Mountain Grove, Kennebec Hall in Arden and Soldiers Memorial Hall (Oso Hall) in Sharbot Lake.

With the exception of Councilor John Purdon, the councillors at the meeting all supported the proposal to charge $45 for residents to rent any of the halls for a day ($75 with the use of kitchen facilities) and to raise the hourly rate for rentals of three hours or less from $5 to $10. For non-residents the charge will be $85 per day, and $100 with kitchen. The compassionate rate for funeral receptions will go up to $15 from the current $10.

John Purdon said that since the halls vary in size, the rental fee should vary as well. He pointed out that the basement of the Olden Hall is “less than half the size of the Kennebec Hall,” yet the rental will be the same.

“I support the report as it was written,” said Mayor Janet Gutowski. “We are nowhere near the cost of maintaining the halls with these prices, and I’m ok with that, but we need to cover the heating and at least some of the costs. Everyone in the township pays taxes to keep these halls going and only some people use them.”

Deputy Mayor Frances Smith agreed.

“I support the recommendations that have been given to us. We have to look at raising the costs or we are going to be looking at losing the halls. I’m not sure I’m comfortable with losing one hall. It’s the Pic Hall,” she said, fighting back tears as she looked over at the empty chair where Bill Snyder used to sit. “It’s very difficult”.

“I agree with you,” said Janet Gutowski. “It was very hard for me to see this on the agenda tonight.”

Councilor Tom Dewey, who was chairing the meeting, then suggested that the matter of the Piccadilly Hall could be deferred given the “circumstances of the day”

“I think we all agree that the Pic Hall needs to be closed,” said Frances Smith, “it’s just how we do it.”

Township CAO Larry Donaldson said that the motion that accompanied the committee report called for acceptance of the recommendations, but would not be the final word. A bylaw will need to be prepared and there will be an opportunity for details, such as how to deal with the Piccadilly Hall, to be ironed out by Council later on.

Given that, Council accepted the recommendations in the report.

$2 million grant

CAO Donaldson announced that the township has received a $2 million grant to complete the paving of Fifth Lake Road. The new money will cover two-thirds of the $3 million cost of the project, leaving the township on the hook for $1 million. It is in addition to a $1.8 million grant that the township has already received, which covers 90% of the $2 million cost of paving the Wagarville Road, which feeds into the Fifth Lake Road.

“This means that we will have asphalt all the way from Parham to Tamworth” said Mayor Gutowski.

Most of the other surface-treated roads in the township, with the exception of Roads 38 and 509, have lower grade tar and chip surfaces.

Parham Post Office changes finaldised

A letter was sent to the township on February 10 announcing the final changes to the hours of operation at the Parham Post Office, effective March 17.

From Monday to Wednesday and on Fridays the post office will be open from 9 a.m. until noon and 2:30 to 4:30 pm. On Thursdays it will be open from 9 a.m. to noon and 2:30 until 6:30 p.m. It will be closed on Saturday. Locked boxes in the office will only be accessible during open hours.

Changes to the Godfrey Post Office hours are pending, but the final hours have not yet been announced.