Word spread through the Sydenham High School community on Thursday of last week (February 18) that 16-year-old student, Gavin Young, of Perth Road had died in a single car collision south of the village, and that two of his fellow classmates were in Kingston General Hospital.

By Friday the reality was well known to all members of the SHS community and the school began dealing with the impact of the news on the students and the staff.

Gavin Young was a talented athlete, who won the shot- put provincial championship for athletes in grades 8 and 9 when he was only in grade 8.

School Principal Shawn Lehman said it is “always very difficult to deal with losing anybody in a school; it is very hard on everybody because a school is a community.”

Supports from within the school and the Limestone Board have been brought in to help the students cope with the news, and with the injuries faced by Young’s classmates. One of them remains in critical condition at KGH, while thankfully, the other is expected to make a full recovery. At the request of their parents, the identities of the two are not being released to the media at this time.

“There are a variety of different reactions to grief,” said Lehman. “We asked for some supports from educational services from the board and have freed up some of our staff as well to meet with students one on one and in small groups. We also have an adolescent care worker who is part of our school and knows the students quite well.”

A number of memory books have been set up in the school, and that seemed to help a little bit,” said Principal Lehman, “but this is really the initial stage of grieving. The important thing is for everyone to pull together, and that has been happening.”

A memorial service took place at the school on Wednesday night, February 24, which, according to Gavin’s parents’ wishes, was devoted to celebrating Gavin’s life. A funeral was held in Kingston on Monday.

Thanks to an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant, LOLCS, along with other community partners, is developing a Child and Youth Transportation program.

The goal of the program is: “To improve the quality of life and provide community inclusion for children and youth (up to age 21 and still in school) in Addington Highlands Township and part of North Frontenac Township by providing transportation to those who otherwise would not have access to medical appointments, community and school events.”

Some examples of the community and school events that more youth will be able to participate in are: the Teen Zone, in Kaladar; After School program at North Addington Education Centre; the CO-OP Education program at North Addington Education Centre; Lennox & Addington Resources for Children – day programs, just to name a few.

The community partners who make up the transportation committee are: North Addington Education Centre, The Teen Zone, Healthy Initiatives (after school program), as well as Pathways for Children and Youth, Lennox & Addington Family and Children’s Services, Prince Edward, Lennox & Addington Social Services, Land O’ Lakes Community Services and members from the community.

The committee has hired two part-time, program co-ordinators, Natalie Tryon and Cheryl Hartwick, to develop policies and procedures, fundraise, recruit, and train volunteer drivers. We have almost completed the policies and procedures and have begun some fund-raising efforts – we will be running a volleyball tournament on March 5 from 3pm to 11pm (if interested in putting a team in call Natalie at 613-336-1520).

If you have some spare time, or you already drive your own children to some of these community programs, maybe you would be interested in volunteering to drive other children. Helping others to participate more in the community, helping to build better and brighter futures and building better community programs are just a few of the many rewards you can gain from volunteering.

We have received our first donation to the program (to help fund the drives). Hayley Lamont, a student from North Addington Education Centre, raised some money as part of her Civics class and chose to donate it to the Child and Youth Transportation Program. Youth helping youth – there is nothing better than that.

If you are interested in becoming a driver or donating to the program please contact Natalie or Cheryl at Land O’ Lakes Community Services – 613-336-8934.

By Susan Irwin, Executive Director / Lawyer, Rural Legal Services

Significant changes are coming to Legal Aid Ontario. The most dramatic changes will be noticed initially by people seeking Legal Aid Certificates to retain lawyers in Criminal or Family Law matters as set out in the following information release from Legal Aid Ontario.

At Rural Legal Services we shall still be offering the full range of clinic law services, and at least until further notice, taking applications for Legal Aid Certificates.

TRANSFORMING CLIENT SERVICE DELIVERY

Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) is transforming how it delivers services across the province. In keeping with our mandate to provide high-quality and cost-efficient legal aid services, LAO is making greater use of technology, streamlining administration and increasing front-line client services to make legal aid help and information more easily available for low-income Ontarians in Frontenac County.

IMPROVING LAO MANAGEMENT

Legal Aid Ontario’s new district model improves the coordination of legal aid services across the province. The County of Frontenac is now part of the Durham-Frontenac District in the Central and Eastern Region and Wendy Joy Bird, District Area Director, is responsible for the management and oversight of legal aid services in this county. Wendy is based in the District Area Office in Peterborough, which will act as a district hub -- supporting clinics, lawyers and duty counsel, managing client services and building partnerships with justice sector stakeholders.

LAO SERVICES AVAILABLE TOLL-FREE

Low-income Ontarians in this county can connect to a full range of legal aid services and information through our toll-free number (Dial 1-800-668-8258, and press 0). Legal aid staff at our client service centre help callers with their legal aid issues, or direct them to the right resource. Services include providing information on client files, summary legal advice for eligible clients, financial assessments, and taking legal aid applications. LAO’s toll-free number also allows residents access to legal aid services through pay phones, no coins required. Legal aid help and information are available in 120 languages, including 18 Aboriginal, through the use of instant translation services.

Offering a full range of services over the phone helps alleviate common client problems surrounding transportation, travel costs, delays and cancelled appointments. The multilingual feature is well suited to this growing community with many new immigrants. Lawyers who work with LAO are also encouraged to use the toll-free number as a key resource.

MORE DIRECT LEGAL AID SERVICES

LAO is improving services in the courts. As part of the Justice on Target initiative, the province’s strategy to reduce court delays by 30 per cent, LAO has established an office in the Kingston courthouse to assist clients with their legal aid matters. More direct client services are also available through the duty counsel program, for which LAO will be providing more support in the coming months. Duty counsel provide immediate legal assistance to low-income people who appear in court without a lawyer.

IMPROVED WEBSITE

LAO’s new website (www.legalaid.on.ca) provides detailed information on legal aid services and includes a specific section on Aboriginal legal issues. Community legal clinic contact information, duty counsel office locations as well as links to a wide range of family law and social assistance resources are also available.

MODERNIZATION PROJECTS

LAO is improving services by incorporating available technologies. Simplified Online Application Portal (SOAP), our online application and eligibility process, helps clients get legal aid representation more quickly.

LAO is also continually improving its online services for lawyers who do legal aid work. These initiatives allow for immediate action to be taken on legal aid cases, thereby promoting faster resolution, and supporting the province’s Justice on Target strategy to reduce court delays by 30 per cent.

Legal Aid Ontario is committed to maintaining a permanent presence in Frontenac County and working with our partners in this county as we continue to make the needs of low-income Ontarians a priority. 

Legalese is a column of general information and opinion on legal topics by the lawyers of Rural Legal Services, Box 359, Sharbot Lake, ON, K0H2P0, 613-279-3252, or 1-888-777-8916. This column is not intended to provide legal advice. You should contact a lawyer to determine your legal rights and obligations.

A tough budget, in an election year to boot South Frontenac Council met an hour earlier than usual in order to discuss the 2010 budget, managing to review Environmental Services and Roads.

CAO Wayne Orr outlined the challenge facing Council: "This draft budget has been drawn up following Council's instructions [to keep taxes at an absolute minimum]. We are making the budget palatable this year by significantly drawing down our reserves."

As an example, he noted that the Township had to come up with $1.2 million as its share in order to receive $2.4 million in Government grants for capital expenditures on infrastructure (roads, bridges and library.)

In addition to draining township reserves without replacing the money, the draft budget calls for a 4% increase in the levy to ratepayers, which would bringit to $10.5 million.

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth said he is concerned that reliance on road reserves may sacrifice future years at the expense of this year. Segsworth said the Township's greatest asset was itsroad system.

"What about its staff?"  interjected treasurer Bracken, bringing a moment's relief to an otherwise tense evening.

Segsworth said it's essential to continue to invest in roads if they are to hold their value, and there is little likelihood of receiving much in the way of grants in the coming years.

"At this rate, there will be no more road reserves left in a few more years. And it's 'penny wise, pound foolish,' if we don't maintain our road assets."

Both he and Wayne Orr placed the same dilemma before Council: increase taxes or cut services.

Deputy Mayor Vandewal said, "We have to at least try to stay where we are: we can't go backward." 

"We'll have to cut services," thundered Robinson, declaring he had no confidence in five-year roads plans.

Councilor David Hahn noted that this year's harder to predict, as it is the township's first amalgamated budget. He also commented that new development, although it means a broader tax base, also means more wear on roads and demands for services. Several councillors seemed ready to refer many budgetary issues as to next year's (new) council.

Budget deliberations will continue at the next Council meeting, March 2nd.

In relation to waste management, Mark Segsworth reviewed Council's earlier agreement with the Sustainability Committee's recommendation that waste disposal costs which are for the public good, should be moved into the general tax base, while collection services which provide individual benefit, would be a separate set charge of $85. per household.

Because Bedford won't have collection until September, their portion of the collection service charge for Jan-Aug will go toward building up their (greatly depleted) reserves for landfill closure.

Verona Medical Clinic

John McDougall, speaking on behalf of the Verona and district Health Services Committee, outlined their plan to purchase the Verona Clinic, with the intent of leasing it back to the new doctors. He asked whether Council would consider underwriting $200,000 as a bond, which the Verona Community Association would repay with interest through fundraising. All agreed that the legal details of such an arrangement would have to be clarified, but council was very supportive of the project in principle, and agreed to discuss it further.

By Susan Irwin, Executive Director / Lawyer, Rural Legal Services

We live in an increasingly complicated world. A world of voice mail with confusing menus rattled off at break neck speed by electronic voices, “self-help” kits and forms that seem to require at least a college diploma to understand and, of course, internet web pages that are supposed to answer all your questions.

Increasingly it is a challenge to get to talk to a “real” person about your problem or concern. If your problem involves legal issues, who can you call or where can you go, to actually talk to a human being about your rights and obligations? Well, if you live in northern Frontenac or northern Lennox & Addington counties, you could start by contacting Rural Legal Services to talk to one of our lawyers – at no cost to you.

Community Legal Clinics, such as Rural Legal Services, are part of Ontario’s legal aid plan. As a not-for-profit organization funded by Legal Aid Ontario and governed by a Board of Directors made up of interested individuals from the community, our mission is to provide area residents with access to justice through advocacy, including legal advice and representation, public legal education and referrals to other community agencies, government and legal services.

We provide the following information and advice services without charge:

identifying whether or not you have a “legal” problem,

identifying the legal issues,

discussing whether you need a lawyer and how to go about finding one if we are unable to help you further, and

identifying whether there are other services, such as government ministries or agencies, that also may be able to provide assistance.

In order to qualify for our more extensive legal services such as casework and representation before Ontario’s courts and administrative tribunals, you must reside in Northern Lennox & Addington County or Northern Frontenac County and have income within financial eligibility guidelines set by Legal Aid Ontario. If you are on Ontario Works, ODSP, or are a senior receiving the guaranteed income supplement you are automatically eligible for our casework services.

We can also take applications for Legal Aid Certificates that will allow financially eligible people to hire a lawyer to represent them, most often in family or criminal law matters. Decisions on Legal Aid Certificates are made by the area Legal Aid Ontario office in Kingston.

If you have a legal problem that we cannot help you with, and you need the services of a lawyer, then we will direct you to The Lawyer Referral Service operated by the Law Society of Upper Canada. This is also a free service and it is designed to put you in touch with a lawyer who will give you a 30-minute consultation without charge. The lawyer will not generally do any legal work during this appointment – it is designed to help you determine your rights and options. You can, of course, decide to retain the lawyer after the initial consultation and at that point you should be discussing the costs of the legal services. The referrals are made based on where you live and the nature of your problem, but it is up to you to make the appointment for the consultation. The Lawyer Referral Service is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, at 1-800-268-8326.

Help is available, and from real people. If you are getting the electronic run around, or have been sent forms or documents that seem to have been written in a foreign language, give us a try. Yes, we do have voice mail for those times when we cannot answer your call – but we do get back to you. Not only do we get back to you, but in appropriate cases we still make house calls!

Legalese is a column of general information and opinion on legal topics by the lawyers of Rural Legal Services, Box 359, Sharbot Lake, ON, K0H2P0, 613-279-3252, or 1-888-777-8916. This column is not intended to provide legal advice. You should contact a lawyer to determine your legal rights and obligations.

CF budget balloons: staff asked to take some of the air out

Central Frontenac Council invited staff from its various departments and representatives from its recreation committees to bring forward their wish lists to the 2010 budget process, and they have spent a number of meetings having the wish lists explained to them.

At the end of their Committee of the Whole meeting late on Tuesday afternoon, March 23, the cozy atmosphere of the 2010 budget process took a decided turn when Treasurer Judy Gray presented Council with a preliminary breakdown of where the budget stands.

In 2009, the township collected $4.378 million from Central Frontenac ratepayers for their own operations, and as it stood on Tuesday afternoon, they were poised to levy $5.935 million from those same ratepayers in 2010, an increase of almost $1.6 million, or 35.6%.

Recognising that this kind of increase was not going to fly, Township CAO John Duchene said he had already talked to Judy Gray and Public works Manager Mike Richardson about the numbers “and we do feel we can find some significant savings. We may have to approach things a little differently in order to do this. I will be approaching other department heads in the coming days. We will get information to you about where we are in advance of our budget meeting on April 13.”

Duchene also pointed out that at least one of the factors leading to the shortfall was a decrease of $200,000 in a transfer from the Province of Ontario to the township under the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund.

Councilor Gary Smith, who was chairing the Committee of the Whole meeting when the budget discussion was taking place, asked Council if there was a number they would like staff to be working towards.

After consideration Council decided to ask staff to find savings or alternative revenue sources (presumably by taking money from township reserve funds) to cut the tax levy increase by over $1 million from the current budget.

Even if the township can find these savings, Central Frontenac ratepayers will still be faced with an increase of about 11.5% in the taxes they pay for local services.

However, the township portion of the overall municipal tax bill is about 50%, with education and county taxes making up the other 50%. The levies for both education and county taxes are not going up this year, so the overall impact of an 11.5% increase in township taxes would be around a 6% increase on the overall municipal levy.

But $1 million must still be found to make that happen.

Councilor Norm Guntensperger warned against cutting the budget too much. “Personally I hear more from people when we don’t deliver the services they want, particularly when it comes to roads. I don’t think we should be increasing what we do, but I don’t want to see any cuts to the services we do offer,” he said.

Nonetheless, Guntensperger did support the call for a $1 million cut to the levy.

As Tuesday’s Committee of the Whole meeting was about to adjourn, Councilor Frances Smith said, “I just want to point out that I find this a painful way to do budgeting. Asking everyone to come up with wish lists and then asking them to cut them back, and then having to cut them back ourselves just makes it that much harder. It would be better in the future for us to set some targets in advance, and to work from there.” 

By Susan Irwin, Executive Director / Lawyer, Rural Legal Services

The Legal Clinic in Sharbot Lake has been producing a “Legalese” column for more than 20 years. For one reason or another, we sometimes find ourselves looking at our old columns and when we do, it’s interesting to see how the law and the legal services available to our Community have changed. However, it is also disappointing to see how some needs continue to be ignored.

Even the best justice system is of little importance if it cannot be accessed by all our citizens, and not just by those who live in large urban centres, or those who can afford the time and expense to travel to those centres. Many problems end up before the Courts, and whether they deal with civil, family, provincial offences, or criminal matters, those Courts are an essential part of our justice system.

In July, 1990, we looked at the Court services that were available in Sharbot Lake. The Criminal Court services have not changed – the Court still sits once a month at the Soldier’s Memorial Hall in Sharbot Lake. The Ontario Legal Aid Plan (LAO) still provides “Duty Counsel”, a lawyer who will advise people and speak to the Court on their behalf on some matters, all without charge. The Duty Counsel will not act in a trial.

The Provincial Offences Court also still sits at the hall, dealing with matters ranging from speeding to hunting and fishing charges, and even the occasional municipal by-law offence. In 1990, though, business must have been brisker because the Court, according to the column, was held every second Wednesday. It now sits once every two months. Duty Counsel is not provided by LAO for this Court but a lawyer from the Clinic still usually attends to advise people wanting assistance and to speak to matters on their behalf without charge.

The Court that is missing today is the Small Claims Court. Not only did the Court sit twice a year, but we also had a local Small Claims Court office and Clerk in the early 1990s. At the time, the Court could only handle matters involving non-real estate disputes of up to $1,000.00. Lawyers were seldom needed as the Court was intended to allow minor matters to be settled with as little emphasis on technicalities as possible. The Court office was later closed and the sittings moved to Kingston. Since 1990 the Small Claims Court has undergone many legislative changes including the introduction of more procedural rules as well as an increase in the monetary jurisdiction to $25,000.00.

The other Court that is missing is one that has never been held in Sharbot Lake and that is the Family Court. As was pointed out in the Legalese of July 24th, 1990:

“It is sad indeed that the government seems to feel that it is more important to provide a place to argue over impaired driving charges, speeding tickets and small debts, than to provide a local Court to deal with support, custody and access, and requests for Restraining Orders to keep a violent, or potentially violent, spouse away.

If a husband batters his wife, the charge of assault against him will be dealt with right here in North Frontenac. The wife, however, often with small children in tow, must face the prospect of numerous trips to Kingston before she can obtain some justice in the form of an Order keeping the batterer away from the home and giving her custody of the children and some support payments.”

Two things have changed since these comments were published: debts can no longer be argued over in a local Small Claims Court and domestic assaults are now dealt with at a special Court held in Kingston.

Given increasing urbanization rates and a trend towards the regional delivery of government services, it’s unlikely that we shall see more sittings of any Court in Sharbot Lake. The problem identified in 1990 remains though, in that access to family law services, and the Family Courts, is still exclusively based in urban locations, such as Kingston, with all the associated problems that can create for rural families in crisis.

We do try to provide some help in the area of Family Law, and do work closely with Family Law Duty Counsel in Kingston and the Family Law Information Centre on occasion, but access to resources in this area of the law remains a problem for our community. 

Legalese is a column of general information and opinion on legal topics by the lawyers of Rural Legal Services, Box 359, Sharbot Lake, ON, K0H2P0, 613-279-3252, or 1-888-777-8916. This column is not intended to provide legal advice. You should contact a lawyer to determine your legal rights and obligations.

A small but determined group of Ompah residents have been seeking the return of two hours of library service per week to their library.

At the same time they are worried that the board of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library intends to close their library entirely.

It all started when the Plevna library found a new home early this winter. In order to encourage use in the new library, which makes use of a renovated portable classroom, the library board increased the hours that the Plevna library was open by two per week, from eight to 10.

These two hours and previously been provided at the Ompah branch, which is now down to four hours a week, from six.

The rural services sub-committee of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library met in Kingston in April and they considered a request by the Ompah library users to return their two hours of service. They decided to recommend that the branch hours remain as they are.

Janice Arthur, one of the Ompah residents advocating for more hours, attended that meeting.

According to Janice Arthur, not only were the Ompah hours rejected, but the library board chair, Claudette Richardson, indicted that the Library “fully intends to go ahead with the recommendations of the 2004 library services report with respect to Ompah.” The library services report called for the Ompah library to close.

When contacted by the News, Claudette Richardson and Wilma Kenny, the chair of the rural services committee and vice-chair of the library board, both said that no such statement had been made.

Claudette Richardson recalled that the conversation about the library hours ended up delving into a discussion of two issues that could impact rural branch service: accessibility issues as well as new rules that are anticipated regarding safety of library staff in response to a violent attack that took place last year at a library in Ottawa.

“These changes could impact our ability to deliver service at branches such as Ompah, but I certainly did not say there are plans to close the Ompah branch,” Richardson said. “Our recommendation for the rural branches is to leave the hours as they are for this year, and look at them next year.”

In a related development, Marily Seitz and John Inglis appeared before North Frontenac Council on May 13.

They reported that the branch hours at Ompah seem to be stuck at the current four, and expressed their concern that the branch may be facing closure. They also reported that the Frontenac County Council representative to the library board, Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek, had arrived late to the rural services sub-committee meeting, after the Ompah hours issue had been dispensed with.

Marily Seitz asked Council the following question: “What follow-up action will Council take to ensure the return of the two hours of service to the Ompah library?”

Mayor Maguire said, “I am disappointed by this. I will bring it back up at County Council again. It is through the county that we deal with the library board so I have to go that route. But people here know that we have had problems with the county.”

The township plans to build a new fire hall this year and free up space at the existing fire hall, which is housed in the same complex as the current, postage stamp-sized Ompah library.

In light of this, John Inglis asked, “Will Council pass a resolution to agree, in principle, to expand the Ompah library?”

“I’d rather wait until we’ve got the ground turned across the road,” said Mayor Maguire, referring to the location of the new fire hall across Road 509, opposite the current one.

When asked, Claudette Richardson was reluctant to make any commitments towards the Ompah branch should the township come forward with expansion plans. “I can’t say anything about a potential plan. If they bring something forward, we will look at it then. All I can say is that we provide the best library service we can, with limited funds,” she said. 

Grace United Church in Sydenham. 

On May 16 at 2pm the Grace United Church will be holding its final service before it closes its doors for good. The service will bring an end to a Sydenham landmark that this month will be just one year short of its 150th birthday.

The stately stone church, once a hub of religious activity in the area, came about when services of worship began in the area in 1792. The services were conducted by “circuit riders”, young men with powerful, convincing manners of speaking and “an ability to identify with pioneer settlers in the area”. Services were held in barns, halls and homes and included a number of denominations including Episcopal, Methodist, Primitive and Wesleyan.

As the population increased so too did the need for a permanent structure and in 1861 two buildings were constructed. One, a stone church (now Grace United), was built originally by Episcopal Methodists. The second, a frame chapel, was erected on Amelia Street by the Primitive Methodists and both churches held religious services. At 40 ft. x 60 ft. Grace Methodist was noted as being “one of the most spacious and best furnished churches in County Frontenac". Sunday worship services were regularly held there and in 1925 the church became Grace United Church.

By 1952 came the need to put all church activities under one roof and a project began to build a basement in Grace United that would house a Sunday school, central heating, a kitchen and a community meeting room. Over 70 churchmen worked after hours excavating the basement using hand shovels and after 18 months the job was finally done. Master craftsman Ole Jonassen completed the wood carving that now graces the altar, pulpits and panels in the church’s sanctuary.

In 1961 Grace United and Perth Road United became the Sydenham-Perth Road Pastoral Charge and in that same year Grace United celebrated its 100-year anniversary. In 1978 and again in 1988 a major refurbishing took place at the church. In 2000 Perth Road and Grace United separated and continued on their own paths.

A number of community outreach programs including Rural Visions, the Diners Club, and Loughborough Christmas Committee, to name a few, have made their homes in the church.

Kathie Nichols, who has been a member of the congregation for 26 years and secretary of the church since 1998, is saddened by the fact that the church will be closing its doors due to lack of financial and human resources. “It’s sad that it’s closing after so many years” she said, but she also sees the reasons why. "It seems to me that the church doesn’t play the role that it used to in people’s lives. When I was growing up the church was a focal point of the community and people’s social lives really revolved around it but these days that is not always necessarily the case and people are now getting that sense of community in other ways."

Kathie also notes the irony- that after scraping by for 20 years and after finally paying off the mortgage in August 2009, the church is now in a financial position where it can no longer afford to remain open. On December 3, 2009 members of the congregation met and voted for its closure, which many felt was an unfortunate but necessary step. For Kathie what bothers her most is not knowing what the future will bring and she regrets that the church, which has become such an asset to the community as a meeting place and concert venue, might see it doors closed for good. Personally she is hoping that some organization will step up and take over the building so that it can remain a gathering place for the community.

Kathie is stresses that the final service at the church is planned to be one of celebration rather than sorrow. It will be officiated by Rev. Mac Stienburg and Rev. Stephen Ambury and The Frontenac Women’s Chorus will be performing.

Public Works Issues

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth reported purchase of a rubber-tired excavator, which will also have a brushing attachment. After test driving machines from the three lowest bidders, staff recommended the third lowest bid ($263,290) as the best unit for cost and functionality.

Council approved the bid of Roadlast Sealing and Asphalt Maintenance to complete the crack sealing work on Sydenham Road. Segsworth said the process should extend the life of this heavily used road by ten years, before it will need a full re-paving. He said that while the surface ‘looks bad’, the skid resistance of the road has increased significantly. This, combined with the shoulder paving, has greatly improvedthe road’s safety. He reminded Council, “Our (Township road) needs greatly outweigh our resources.”

Metro Line painting was awarded the road painting tender on the basis of their excellent performance last year.

Portland Dump

Council agreed “To direct the Public Works manager in conjunction with AECOM to follow up on the process to amend the Certifi cate of Approval for the Portland Dumpsite to allow for the receipt of brush.”

Council also agreed to purchase land adjacent to Portland dump from Robert Leonard for the sum of $116,075.

Verona Health Services Council also agreed to establish the Verona and District Health Services Committee as a committee of the township, separate and distinct from the Verona Community Association.