Catch 22

In addition to the east-west divide in North Frontenac politics, there is a lesser known north-south divide. Up at the top of the township, accessible only by ATV, snowmobile or by travelling by road up to Renfrew County and back, there are a few lost souls. They pay taxes to North Frontenac but receive limited services through arrangements North Frontenac makes with the Township of Greater Madawaska in Renfrew County.

The only time that issues from those lakes seem to come to the attention of North Frontenac Township is when developers at one of the lakes, Norcan Lake, want to put in new subdivisions.

Now there is a new issue, the plight of the residents of Frank’s Park, an island-based trailer park on Centennial Lake.

The island is located on Crown Land and was managed by Frank Stubinsky under a land use permit from the Ministry of Natural Resources, until he passed away and the permit was extended to his daughter Diane Moran.

Access to the island is via a causeway. During his 25 years as park manager, Frank Stubinsky granted a number of the 30 trailer owners in the park permission to put add-on rooms on the trailers they had parked on their designated park sites. MNR officials visited the park on occasion, and were aware of the existence of the add-ons. There is no hydro in the park, and no septic systems, only a privy run by the park management.

In 2010 George Gorrie, North Frontenac’s building inspector, arrived on the island after receiving a complaint from a property owner on Norcan Lake about the location of the trailers.

Aside from the setback issue, the fact that home-made add-on rooms had been built by 15 of the 30 trailer owners in the park, in contravention of a township bylaw, came to Gorrie’s attention. In 2011 Diane Moran informed the 15 owners that the add-on rooms needed to be removed by the end of the season.

The affected campers formed an association and hired a lawyer, who filed a motion in court to delay the order until they could consider their legal options. This led the township to launch a counter suit. A few weeks ago, the nine campers who still have add-on rooms (the other six had removed theirs) agreed to a settlement of the legal issues.

Tim Lawlor, a spokesman for the group, told North Frontenac Council last week that the trailer owners settled because they could no longer afford to carry on the legal proceedings. They had also been prohibited from approaching council while the proceedings were ongoing.

“So, we signed an agreement saying we will remove our add-ons, and that three of our members whose trailers are located within 49 feet of the water will move them back. But now that we are able to come here, we are appealing to Council to back down on the order,” said Stew Arnott, one of the affected trailer owners.

Arnott pointed out that everything he had ever done on his site, including building an add-on in 1999, had been approved by the Land Use Permit owner, who represented the MNR, and that MNR officials never said there was a problem on his site.

“I also know that there are add-ons in other parks in North Frontenac, and the township charges tax on them, so we are not asking for anything that others don’t already have,” Arnott said.

He referred to website ads for two parks which have trailers and add-ons for sale. (The News later confirmed these ads, which clearly include add-on rooms).

In order for the trailers to be moved back from the water to satisfy setback requirements, a number of large trees will have to be removed, which the applicants don’t want to do, and also may have trouble doing because the property is still Crown Land.

North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton said Council will have to look at the case in detail.

“We will get back to you with a response,” Clayton said, “It may not be the response you want from us but we will get back to you.”

We contacted township CAO Cheryl Robson about the case, and she said a report on some of the issues at play will come to Council on August 12. She pointed out that the land use permit includes a clause that puts the township's bylaws in play in the park.

Clause 3 of the Land Use Permit says, in part; "Any land improvements or alterations whatsoever, must be approved by a MNR official and any other applicable agencies or authorities.”

Robson also pointed out that the township has asked the MNR to help sort out the situation but because of budget cuts the MNR has no personnel available to work on the file.

She also pointed out that the township bylaw concerning add-on rooms says that they are permitted only if they are pre-manufactured and removable, which is the case in the add-on rooms in the website ads that Stew Arnott referred to, but not the rooms at Frank’s Park.

Public talks, council listens

A public meeting was held in early June as Council sought input over a number of decisions they were at the point of making.

At the meeting, which was attended by 75 people, Council got an earful about the proposal to cut the number of council members from seven to five; a proposal to build a multi-use complex to include an administrative office and a large public meeting place, and perhaps a library and other cultural or recreational features; and a related proposal to declare most of the existing township halls surplus in seven years' time.

In all cases the public opposed the stated direction of council, and at their meeting this week Council followed the public’s advice and backed down on all three.

The first matter under discussion was the size and make-up of Council. Council was considering cutting down to one councillor representing each of the three wards and electing a mayor and deputy mayor at large. Currently there are two councilors elected from each ward and the mayor is elected at large. At the meeting the public expressed the fear that the new proposal could lead to council being dominated by one region or one group of councilors.

“After hearing from the public, I’ve changed my thinking on this and I am going to vote against the change,” said Councilor Gerry Martin, echoing the sentiments of the rest of Council. A motion to move forward with the change was easily defeated.

On the related issues of declaring the existing halls as surplus and building a central municipal complex, Councilor Lonnie Watkins said, “We’ve spent too much money fixing up the halls to go ahead and close them and build something that no one wants.”

The debate quickly shifted away from a multi-use complex and towards the idea of building only a new township office and council chamber.

“We need a new admin building, that’s all,” said Councilor Wayne Good.

“I think the idea is to build something that can be added on to,” said Mayor Bud Clayton. “The existing building needs $250,000 in upgrades just to keep it going. We need to decide whether we want to do that or build something new. We have been putting money away for this, but we should stop doing that unless we are going to formulate a plan for how we are gong to use that money.”

CAO Cheryl Robson said there is $285,000 set aside in a building fund.

“I think it would be poor management to put more money in that building. What does that building say about what we are all about? It’s basically Hillbilly Heaven, as far as I’m concerned,” said Gerry Martin.

Council decided to enter into a study of their space needs for administration and the viability and cost of making the existing building sufficient for that purpose, as well as costing out a new building.

Mayor to approach community groups about future management of halls

Mayor Clayton asked for Council’s permission to set up meetings with local committees about the future of the Harlowe, Snow Road, Clarendon and Miller, and Ompah halls.

“Obviously the municipality running the halls hasn't really worked for the municipality,” said Clayton. “Task force after task force has looked at this with no solution. It’s time we talked with the user groups about this; it’s time we move forward.”

Clayton proposed to bring a local council member in each district as well as Cory Klatt, the township staff member who deals most directly with halls, to the meetings. Although members of Council expressed scepticism that the groups were in a position to pay all the costs of maintaining the halls, they agreed to let Clayton try.

Frontenac County reserve funds to stay put for now

After spending two meetings talking about millions of dollars that they hold in various reserve funds, Frontenac County Council has decided to complete a strategic plan.

Although the county holds up to $15 million in various reserve funds, much of that money is tied to the future needs for the two largest service areas of the county, Fairmount Home and Frontenac Paramedic Services.

The two pots of money that most concern Council are the working fund reserve, which Treasurer Marian VanBruinessen estimates will be about $4.5 million by the end of 2013, and $1.5 million in accumulated Federal Gas Tax Rebate money that has not been spent.

Everyone on council, as well as County Treasurer Marian VanBruinessen and the county's auditor, Howard Allen, agreed that $4.5 million is high for a working fund reserve.

In a report to Council, VanBruinessen pegged the requirement for the working fund at as low as $1.8 million, and she discussed various options for allocating the excess funds for future projects.

Alternatively, she wrote, “If, ... , Council has no interest in identifying and addressing these or other issues on a regional basis, the remaining funds should be redistributed to the townships.”

Howard Allen said, “If I were in your position, I would first look at what you really need. Once you know how much that is - say it is 8 million or 10 million, whatever it is - then you can decide what to do with the rest.”

Warden Janet Gutowski agreed with Allen.

“We should not lose the point Mr. Allen is making. What are our long term goals? Over all we have some big, big challenges. Part of our duty at this table is to look at those infrastructure challenges,” she said.

On the other hand, the representatives from Frontenac Islands wanted to find out how the reserves have been built up to the level they are now, with a view towards giving the money back.

Dennis Doyle proposed that an analytical review be done of reserve allocations since municipal amalgamation came about.

“We need to know how we got here, because it looks to me like we have been overtaxing our residents for 15 years,” Doyle said.

Doyle's proposal to do a review was defeated.

A proposal, sponsored by Warden Gutowski, to undertake a strategic planning exercise, with input from the township councils and the public, was accepted by Council.

Council recently rejected the results of a strategic planning exercise, but this time Council itself will oversee the process in the hopes of coming to a more acceptable result. The details will need to be worked out, but the process will be linked in some way to a services review that has already been undertaken, also as a council-driven project.

In the meantime, the working fund reserve will be left as it is, at the $4.5 million level.

As far as the gas tax surplus is concerned, Frontenac Islands Mayor Dennis Doyle made it clear he would like to see that money transferred to the townships immediately.

“I think we should put that $1.5 million immediately back to the townships,” he said.

Doyle's position received unexpected support from the county auditor, Howard Allen, who presented an overview of reserve fund policy at the most recent meeting on county reserves, which was held on July 3.

“Certainly gas tax funds should be transferred to the townships, where the roads are managed,” he said.

Allen was then corrected by County Chief Administrator Liz Savill, who said, “No, there are other recommended uses for those funds; roads are at the bottom of the list.”

“I did not know that,” Allen responded, “most of my municipal clients spend the money on roads.”

Over the years, Frontenac County has spent much of its gas tax rebate money under the catch-all category of “capacity building” and on county trails.

Council has gradually increased the amount of its gas tax funds that are transferred to the townships, and this year all the new money was transferred. The $1.5 million that is at issue is banked money from previous years.

“My position on the gas tax is that we should make a yearly decision on where the new money should go, but we should keep the surplus here,” said South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison. “But we need to make decisions on the front end about what we are funding with that money. That hasn't always happened.

A motion to keep the $1.5 million gas tax surplus in place at the county was passed by Council.

No other changes to the various other county reserve funds are being contemplated at this time.

North Frontenac achieves dark skies designation

North Frontenac Township is the first municipality in Canada to achieve the designation of Dark Skies Preserve from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

The designation is in recognition of efforts, led by the township's Economic Development Task Force, to develop an observation pad off Road 506. The pad is open to the public year round, and is also the location of a Dark Skies event in the summer and fall season.

There are numerous dark skies preserves in the country, but this is the first time that an entire municipality is achieving that designation.

After receiving an application earlier this year from the township, the Royal Society said they would approve the designation if the township was willing to enact a new lighting policy. The policy commits the township to using only International Dark Sky Association approved lights in all new installations and when lights need to be replaced.

The township is also committed to carrying out a communications plan aimed at educating permanent and seasonal residents of the benefits and cost savings of adopting Dark-Sky lighting, but the new policy calls for only voluntary compliance among township residents and business owners.

Still, at least one member of Council, Gerry Martin, expressed the concern that the township is edging towards legislating the kind of outdoor lighting that township residents are allowed to purchase.

“I find there is a real Big Brother aspect to this. I don't like that,” he said.

But, as Mayor Bud Clayton explained when asked about the new policy by a member of the public, “All we are contemplating doing is encouraging modern lighting techniques, which are more efficient, light up the ground rather than the sky, and save money. There will be no forced compliance.”

With the policy in place, the township will now focus on the grand opening of the North Frontenac Observatory, which is slated for Saturday, August 3. The observatory, which is located next to a township helipad, has been the site of dark skies events in the past.

Now, thanks to $41,000 in Frontenac County Federal Gas tax rebate money, there is a new concrete pad for the observatory, as well as a parking lot, privies, and picnic tables. The site also has hydro available for powered telescopes.

“Since we started this initiative, we have had a lot of support from astronomers from throughout the region who value the dark skies that we have in North Frontenac. We are accessible by car from Kingston and Ottawa, but the light from both of those cities does not overly impact our viewing. And with 70% of our land being crown, the viewing is very good,” said North Frontenac Councillor Betty Hunter, who has spearheaded the dark skies initiative in her role as chair of the township's economic development task force.

A number of astronomers will be on hand on the 3rd with telescopes. Assistance will also be offered to those with their own telescopes. Because there is also a PA system on the site, information about what can be seen on that particular night will also be available.

Before all the after-sunset action, there will be a grand opening of the new site and a celebration of the township's designation as a dark sky preserve.

North Frontenac pulls plug on municipal solar project

At the very last minute, a seemingly routine vote at North Frontenac Council has stopped a planned MicroFit project that was to generate revenue for North Frontenac Township.

For an initial investment of $56,741, the township was slated to receive over $100,000 after expenses over the 20-year life of the project, a profit margin of over 7% per year. Instead they are out $3,300, the cost of the structural study on the roof where the panels were to be located.

The project, which was in line with a commitment made by the township to Frontenac County to put at least one MicroFit project on a municipal building, has been in the works for over a year. It was slated to be built at the township's municipal complex at 6648 Road 506, near Plevna.

The final vote on the project was tied at 3 votes in favour and 3 votes against, and a tie vote is a lost vote according to the township's procedural bylaw. Only 6 members of the 7-member council were on hand for the vote. Councilor John Inglis, a strong supporter of the project, was not in attendance, and Mayor Clayton pointed out that had he been there the outcome would have been different.

Citing their opposition to the MicroFit program because of its potential to raise Hydro rates on a province-wide basis over time, Councilors Gerry Martin, Lonnie Watkins and Deputy Mayor Fred Perry voted against the project, which was supported by Councilors Berry Hunter, Wayne Good, and Mayor Clayton.

North Frontenac has been considering starting up a MicroFit project for a number of years; they initially hoped to put one on the proposed fire hall/ambulance in Ompah before that project was scrapped.

Last August, Public Works Manager Jim Phillips began working on developing the project for location at the township's administrative complex. Exxex Energy Corporation did a structural engineering feasibility study on the roof of the building, at a cost of $3,300. The study concluded that it would cost $10,000 to $12,000 to shore up the roof of the building, $43,241 for the equipment and $1,500 in installation, for a total project cost of $56,741.

On May 8, the township received a contract from the Ontario Power Authority for sale of the power that the project would have generated by the panels. The contract gives them until November 8 to have the project up and running.

After the no vote, Councilor Hunter gave a notice of motion to revisit the decision at the next Council meeting. It was unclear whether a simple majority is required in order to revisit and perhaps overturn the decision, or whether a 2/3 majority is required. If the latter is the case, in a seven-member council, five votes would be necessary to meet that requirement.

Fire Department’s 25-Year Veterans

Mayor Davison read the names of eight fire department volunteers who have completed 25 years service with South Frontenac’s Fire Departments: Ray Leonard, Dale Reynolds, Ben Lappen, Wayne Young, Bill Jones, Steve Spencer, Farley Stevens and Bernie Oomen. As well, Davison presented Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough with a certificate recognizing his 25 years of service to the department.

Public Works Reports

Council approved the quotation of Denchem Ltd for the supply and mixing of a magnesium chloride additive to the township’s road salt and sand for the 2013/14 season, at a cost of $48,546. This process is designed to reduced the amount of salt used, maintaining the same level of service with a lower environmental impact.

A summary of the Public Works tenders awarded in the first half of 2013 submitted for Council’s information totaled a little over $2.6 million. The projects are all included in the approved 2013 operating and capital budgets.

Noise By-law Exemption Granted

Council authorized an exemption to the noise by-law for the Vezeau campground at 3060 Sydenham Road, on the weekend of August 2-4, to permit an outdoor guitar festival. This event, known as The Canadian Guitar Festival, has been held for eight years with no complaints from neighboring residents.

Radio Communication Study

Council agreed with Fire Chief Chesebrough's recommendation that the County be asked to fund a county-wide study of radio communications. This would review the current system, identifying areas of concern and recommending possible solutions. It’s estimated the study would take three months to complete, at a cost of $25,000.

Verona Transportation Corridor Review

Council approved a Capital Budget amendment in the amount of $30,000 to undertake a Verona transportation improvement plan. The Verona Community Association has identified concerns about speed and volume of traffic along Road 38 in the village as high priority. Councilor Robinson did not support the motion.

Sydenham Point Football Field in Poor Shape

The football field at the Point, which is owned by the township and used by Sydenham High School during the school year, has fallen into disrepair. In late June, staff from the township and the school board met and agreed that the field would have to be taken out of service for a year, and required major restoration upgrades. As a short-term fix in order to have the field available for the high school sports season this fall, the field will be closed after the Sydenham triathlon (July 7) until Labour Day, to permit reseeding: the school board will cover this expense. Negotiations between the board and the township are continuing in respect to longer-term work on the irrigation system and turf.

Barr appointed

Councilor Pat Barr was appointed to the South Frontenac Recreation Committee as the Council representative for Bedford.

Central Frontenac to go with County planning services in 2014.

In a move that has been coming for at least two years, Central Frontenac Council decided this week to end their relationship with their contract planner, Glenn Tunnock, at the end of 2013.

The switch is coming about for one reason: cost. Interim CAO John Duchene presented a report on the cost of township-generated planning work, and concluded that the township pays Tunnock about $13,000 a year on average for Official Plan and zoning bylaw review, representation at Ontario Municipal Board hearings, etc.

The Frontenac County Planning department is offering to do all township-generated work for free.

The township also provides planning services for individuals or corporations who apply for various permits, severances, and zoning amendments, but those are paid for by the applicant on a cost recovery basis. The county will provide those services as well starting in January.

Not everyone on Council was supportive of the move to County Planning. “Our planning consultant has been with us for a long time. It ain’t broke so why are we fixing it? How long will it be until the county needs new staff and our savings will be gone? I think Glenn Tunnock’s knowledge of our township and the planning act saves us money whenever we go to the OMB [Ontario Municipal Board]. I don’t support this,” said Councilor Frances Smith.

Mayor Janet Gutowski, a long time supporter of the changeover to the county, said, “I do think there is additional value to the county planning department. They have offered to attend our Committee of Adjustment meetings for free as an additional service. With respect to hours, it is really only one day a week that we need, and that can be accommodated without hiring a new planner at the county.”

In a recorded vote, Mayor Gutowski, Deputy Mayor Tom Dewey, Councilors Matson, Purdon, and Snyder supported the changeover, and Councilors Smith, Wayne Millar, and Heather Fox voted against it. Councilor Gunensperger was not at the meeting.

Glenn Tunnock has been Central Frontenac’s Planner of record since 1999.

Agreement keeps Parham Library in place for a year.

A pending agreement between the township, the Limestone District School Board, and the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) will see the portable classroom at Hinchinbrooke Public school remain in place as a branch of the KFPL until July 1, 2014. Even though the school it is attached to is closing at the end of this week, the board has agreed to allow the library to remain open for a year as the school explores future uses for the surplus school building. Council passed a motion authorizing the clerk and mayor to sign an agreement on their behalf with the other two parties.

Site plan agreement for Dean’s Superstore – In a measure that will help Mike Dean's Superstore achieve their goal of expanding to the rear of the existing building in order to put in new food preparation areas, council accepted a site plan agreement, which covers alterations already made at the front of the store and some that are pending at the rear.

“They are very close to receiving a septic approval, which will be followed by an offer to purchase a small piece of land from the township, and then a permit can be issued,” said John Duchene. “The site plan agreement, which the Deans have accepted without asking for any changes, will allow the project to proceed once all the other steps have been completed.”

New CAO: Mayor Janet Gutowski introduced Larry Donaldson, who will be assuming the role of township chief administrative officer (CAO) on July 15.

Donaldson was raised in Lanark Village and has worked in the Ottawa region for most of his career. He currently lives in Stittsville with his wife and teenaged children. He served as the clerk in the City of Kanata, and was the CAO of the town of Arnprior for ten years, until October 20, 2011, when he was relieved of his duties. All indications are that Donaldson lost his job as the result of a change in the political climate in Arnprior.

At the time the Mayor of Arnprior said the firing was not “with cause. We determined we wanted a new voice, a new start,” said Mayor David Reid. “Larry has a lot of skills, a lot of knowledge. Sometimes you need fresh blood.” David Reid had been newly elected as mayor, along with a fresh slate of councilors, one year earlier. Relieving Larry Donaldson of his duties was the first, but not the last change made by the Reid administration to the senior staff in Arnprior. Soon afterwards the town clerk, public works manager and a senior financial officer were let go.

“Larry has proven his ability to not only study but to also implement a variety of municipal services including facilities operation at full-cost recovery basis, strategic plans, development agreements, labour relations, core services reviews, development charges and master plans in recreation and fire,” said Mayor Janet Gutowski

Everyone Lawyers Up As County Feud Lingers

The ongoing enmity between Frontenac County Warden Janet Gutowski and at least four members of Frontenac County Council was played out again last week.

On Wednesday, June 19, as the council's monthly meeting was just beginning, the normally perfunctory task of accepting the minutes from the previous meeting was held up when Councilor David Jones said that “because of a legal issue with one of the items in the minutes I move that they be deferred.”

The item in question was a motion from the May 15 council meeting that included an allegation of corruption on the part of the warden.

That motion reads, in part: “WHEREAS Councillor Gutowski has on more than one occasion breached her Oath uttering promises and rewards in an effort to conspire with Staff to move County Councillors to vote ‘"in a biased, corrupt or in any other improper manner".

BE IT RESOLVED Councillor Gutowski has lost the trust of Council by violating her Oath of Office and Council rescinds all privileges of office immediately.

FURTHER MORE, Councillor Gutowski's peddling of political favours shall be referred to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

AND FURTHER MORE, the Township of Central Frontenac appoints a replacement Councillor to County Council as soon as possible.”

The May 15 motion was moved by Jones, seconded by Dennis Doyle of Frontenac Islands, and was supported by Councilors John McDougall and Bud Clayton.

Councilors John Purdon and John Inglis and Gutowski herself voted against it. South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison was not at the meeting.

Since Council does not have the authority to rescind privileges or ask for a replacement, the motion led only to a referral to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.

When the motion was passed on May 15, Gutowski said she would be consulting her solicitor about it, and after the June 19 meeting the four councilors confirmed that they have received a letter from a lawyer representing Gutowski. Although they did not share the specifics, the letter apparently asks for either a retraction of the motion, an apology, or both.

When asked if a letter had been sent, Gutowski only smiled.

For his part, South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison, who has been a harsh critic of Gutowski in recent months, said “I feel a bit left out.”

Citizen chair steps down from county service review committee

Walter Knott, a resident of Frontenac Islands who is a retired accountant, is no longer the chair of the Frontenac County committee that is conducting a comprehensive organizational review of county operations.

Knott appeared before a meeting of Council last week (June 19) to provide an update of the committee’s progress.

Instead he read a prepared statement that said the review should not continue at this time.

“There is a much larger issue 'hiding under the bed', so to speak, and it is a two-headed monster. It is the massive amount of cash held by the county, some $17 million, which I believe is at the heart of some of the stresses of this council,” he said.

The two heads that Knott was referring to are the $2.4 million the county holds in 'deferred revenue' and $14.1 million in 'the reserve group'.

According to Walter Knott, the county has been over-taxing for years, and holding the money in reserves.

“I believe that collecting excess taxes over a long period was unethical, and for me that is a major problem ... My conscience requires me to urge council to put the review on hold until the excess funds matter is settled,” he said.

The reserve fund issue was the subject of a Committee of the Whole meeting on June 5, and a subsequent discussion is scheduled for July 3.

“I'm not sure that Walter Knott is aware that we are tackling the reserve issues at the same time as we take on the services review,” Frontenac Islands Mayor Dennis Doyle said, after Knott had left the meeting. “When he is informed I think he might be persuaded to return to the committee.”

After hearing Walter Knott's allegations of over-taxing and accumulating reserves, the News looked to Frontenac County’s most recent posted financial statements and those of neighbouring counties. At first blush Frontenac County’s reserve position does seem unusually robust as a ratio of annual revenue.

Lennox and Addington (2012): Revenue $60 million; reserves $10 million (17%)

Lanark County (2012): Revenue $67 million; reserves $16 million (23%)

Hastings County (2011): Revenue $115 million; reserves $14 million (12%)

Frontenac County (2011): Revenue $35 million; reserves $13.5 million (38%)

It should be noted that municipalities don't necessary calculate their reserve funds in the same way, so side by side comparisons like the one above can be misleading. For example, of the $13.5 million in Frontenac County reserves in 2011, $1.4 million is listed under “ambulance capital” which is a joint fund with the City of Kingston. Lennox and Addington, Hastings and Lanark Counties do not have joint funds with other municipalities.

Frontenac County Official Plan

Frontenac County is slated to have an Official Plan in place within a year.

Joe Gallivan, the Manager of Sustainability Planning for the County, has been preparing the County’s first Official Plan, and he presented a draft plan to a meeting of county council last week.

“I suggest that members of council read the document, call me if you have any questions, and then we can go through it at the Committee of the Whole meeting on July 3. After that we will go to public meetings,” Gallivan suggested when he tabled the document.

One of the benefits of the plan, according to Gallivan, is that once it is in place, the local townships will be able to make changes to their own plans without seeking approval from the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The Official Plans for South, Central, and North Frontenac have all been faced with delays, sometimes for years, over disagreements with the ministry over certain provisions.

The county plan will have to pass muster with the ministry before it is approved, and there are certain aspects of it that may be a hard sell, according to Joe Gallivan, who knows the ministry well because he worked there before coming to work at Frontenac County.

One has to do with the fact that the plan is not a detailed document.

“We did not want to duplicate the detail in the township plans. This is what I call a high level document. It is designed to complement what is already in place at the townships. The ministry is not used to that,” Gallivan said.

On a more particular note, the Frontenac plan does not call for development to be focused in the built up hamlet areas, which the province prefers.

“Frontenac County is different. With the exception of Sydenham, there is no sewer and water in the hamlets, and there is no reason to discourage the kind of rural development that people want. I don't know how the ministry will react to that either,” he said.

While the draft was received without much comment, South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison did take issue with some of the wording regarding a regional roads system in the county.

“On page 27, in item 4.2.2 about regional roads, I see words, like 'provide, develop, explore, work' all in regards to the county doing stuff with roads. You say you want to give us direction but the townships have already given you direction that we do not want you to work on our roads. We have the capacity between us, as township road departments, to do all the work that is needed on those roads. I will be speaking against that part of the document,” Davison said. 

Roads Department to Continue New Salt Mix

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth reported that his department plans to continue adding magnesium chloride to the winter road sand this coming winter. This additive lowers the temperature of ice formation on roads, cuts the amount of required road salt by 50%, and stays on the road longer than the traditional salt and sand mix. It also greatly reduces ‘scatter’, or the amount (30%) of road salt that is wasted by bouncing off the road during application. Last winter was the first time this mix was used, and Segsworth said more time was needed to fully assess the results.

Councillor Robinson asked what other municipalities are using this mix: Segsworth said it is a recent introduction, and so far, Prescott/Russell is the only other Eastern Ontario municipality trying it.

Mayor Davison asked what the negative effects of this particular chemical might be: “Is it safe? Green?” Segsworth replied that Environment Canada has declared road salt a problem material, and this mix greatly reduces the amount of road salt.

Arterial Road Snow Plowing to be Tendered

Segsworth reported that the Public Services Committee recommended that rather than extending the arterial plowing contracts for one year, they should be re-tendered for five years. Council had few objections to a cost escalation clause with fuel price indexing, or asking that bid prices reflect whether or not the Township would be expected to house the vehicles. However, there was general disagreement with setting a requirement that equipment be no more than ten years old. Segsworth said this had been proposed as a means of ensuring greater equipment reliability.

New Ventilation System for Glendower

The Public Works Department has accepted the tender of Climate Works Heating & Cooling in the amount of $51,276 + HST to supply and install a ventilation system at Glendower Hall. This will be paid out of the recreation capital budget.

Addington Highlands resident Paul Isaacs brought a proposal to council that the township hire him for a nominal fee of $1 to investigate the costs to the municipality of monitoring ground and surface water at its waste sites.

Isaacs pointed out to council that if something goes wrong with, for example, the water at the Denbigh hall, dozens of people would fall sick instantly. However, if the water is bad at waste sites, no one would immediately be harmed. Yet, monitoring the water at the hall costs around $300 a year as opposed to the cost of monitoring water at the waste sites, which was over $80,000 in 2012. The monitoring is done by Johnson Environmental Consultants.

Isaacs is asking for the nominal fee so that he can request information as a representative of the township, but said he would not send out any communications without township approval.

He said that in his investigation so far, he had found that the documents controlling the waste sites do not contain actual rules, but only guidelines or recommendations. He therefore proposed that the township could reduce costs by taking the samples themselves and requesting that the number of test wells and the frequency of sampling should be reduced.

Council responded that they were very appreciative of Paul Isaacs having taken the initiative to help the township, but that the first step should be to refer the proposal to the waste site supervisor, Royce Rosenblath.

Deputy Reeve Bill Cox also pointed out that there were two different ministries involved: the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Environment.

Council voted to receive Paul Isaacs’ proposal and refer it to the waste site supervisor.

• The library board is applying for a Trillium grant of $15,000 for new computer work stations, monitors, etc.

• Council approved in principle a proposal to place a portable toilet for visitors in the area of the museum grounds in Cloyne, with the exact location to be determined later, subject to approval by North Frontenac Township.

• Northbrook fire hall: Deputy Reeve Cox said he was afraid that if the township waited until next spring to call for tenders for the proposed fire hall they would be too far behind. Fire Chief Casey Cuddy agreed, saying that the schedule is to issue the calls for tenders in September, which would give time for the contractors to view the site and submit tenders in December, with construction slated to start in the spring.

• Casey Cuddy brought with him one of several new signs that have been made up to notify drivers to yield to flashing green lights, which firefighters use when responding to emergencies. The Ministry of Transportation will not allow the signs to be posted on highways, but Cuddy said they would be placed on county roads.

• The Land o’Lakes Lions will be conducting their annual fundraising road toll on June 27, 28 and 29 on Highway 41 in Northbrook.

• The County of Lennox and Addington is beginning a Transportation Master Plan (TMP) study to guide the County's transportation programs and road infrastructure investments for the next 20 years. The county is asking for public input and will be holding a series of open houses at various locations. The study will be completed in one year. For more information visit www.lennox-addington.on.ca/public-notices/857-notice-of-study-commencement.html

“I Can’t Believe it!”

A frustrated Councillor McDougal indicated part of a recent facebook posting, in which Bill Day of Harrowsmith invites quad and dirt bike riders to his newly-improved racing track: “It’s safe to say summer is vary (sic) much on its way...We’re currently working on bring back a full grass drag series...we will be doing more work to the grass drag track so we can start drawing in more outlaws...”

Mayor Davison replied that Day apparently refuses to respect the law, and if there’s a complaint, the by-law officer will be sent in, as often as necessary, and Day will be fined. (It’s a longstanding policy that Township by-law enforcement is reactive, not proactive. The Township does not hire staff to hunt for by-law infractions, but instead responds to complaints.)

Council had recently approved a series of two-day dog trials on the Day property, on the grounds that they were one-off events, and should not cause noise or dust problems for neighboring residents.

Pat Barr Joins Council

Pat Barr took her place at the council table, replacing Mark Tinlin as one of the Bedford district representatives. She has also joined the Public Works Committee and the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. Deputy Mayor Naish has asked to be moved to the Corporate Services Committee, for the meeting time fits his schedule, and Mayor Davison will reassume his role on the Police Services Board.

Within the hamlet area of Crow Lake, the Crow Lake road had to be closed on Tuesday night after it was flooded out, The apparent cause was an apparent beaver dam collapse. Crews were on scene all night in an attempt to get the road opened by Wednesday morning. Some homes near the road were damaged. This is the second washout on the road in recent years. In 2006, a dam let out and washed away a house and a section of road about 100 metres to the east of the spot that was damaged this week.

Coincidentally, Central Frontenac Township Council, which met a few hours before the washout, received a draft bylaw dealing with beavers and flooding (see below) Council also heard a presentation later in the evening from the new owners of the Oaks resort (which is located about 100 metres to the west of the washout) urging them to enforce the 40 km. speed limit in the hamlet

Beaver bylaw

Public Works Manager Mike Richardson presented Council with a draft bylaw, which is intended to clarify the township's and property owners' rights and responsibilities when beaver activity causes flooding of township or private property. It is quite common in the township that beavers dam up waterways on private land, causing damage to roads and culverts on township property.

Titled a “Bylaw to Manage Risks to Public Infrastructure from Beaver Dams,” the bylaw asserts at the start that “No person shall permit a beaver dam or other obstruction on property owned or occupied by them to create a flood risk.” It then grants the public works manager leave to “enter onto private property without a warrant at any reasonable time” to do what is necessary to safeguard public infrastructure from flooding caused by beaver activity. The bylaw then sets out the protocol for how property owners are to be notified, etc.

“We are not in the business of managing furry animals,” said Richardson. “We are in the business of protecting property from flooding from time to time.”

“I do think we have a responsibility to manage public property,” said Mayor Janet Gutowski, “but there has been no public consultation on this, and I suggest we put this on our website for public comment, and then come back to it in a month.”

Council agreed and the draft bylaw will be posted this week.

Duchene stepping down as CAO

“I would like to thank CAO John Duchene for pulling together all the information needed in order to prepare this bylaw, which will clarify the situation for everyone,” said Richardson.

John Duchene will be stepping down as CAO of the township as soon as a new person is available. Council has not announced when that will happen as of yet.

The short-listed candidates for the job were interviewed late last month

Planning decision held for two weeks

Central Frontenac Council has deferred a debate on whether to enter into a contract with Frontenac County for all of its planning needs or to renew its long- standing contract with Tunnock Consulting Ltd.

In a letter to the township, Glenn Tunnock offered to hold the line on most of the fees his company charges for a variety of services. Many of the planning charges are borne not by the township, but by applicants who are seeking to develop their properties.

The township has been paying Tunnock Consulting a $1,500 retainer each year for planning advice. He also charges the township for periodic Official Plan reviews and if he is called upon to represent the township to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Members of Council also received an analysis of planning charges from Frontenac County, which has also offered to provide planning services, but without charging the township a retainer and providing for Official Plan reviews and OMB appearances for free as well.

Councilors will have two weeks to weigh the offers, giving staff an opportunity to determine if there are any financial implications to the township if the contract with Tunnock is not renewed.

Snow Plowing on Road 38 – In response to a question from Councilor Wayne Millar, Mike Richardson looked at how much it cost the township for winter clearing of Road 38 this year as compared to last year, when it was done by an outside contractor.

“It cost $14,000 in labour,” said Richardson, “and under the contract it cost over $16,000. If you included the cost of the equipment as you do with a contractor, you would say our costs were about $16,000 as well, but the fact is we already own the truck, so there was a savings. There was no noticeable impact on the time it took us to clear the other roads, having one truck working on 38, because in some cases the truck was used on other routes after 38 was done. So it worked out quite well this year.”