Editorial_08-04
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Editorial - January 31, 2008 Frontenac County Council keeps transportation hopes alive Editorial by Jeff GreenA year ago, South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison and Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek agreed, reluctantly, to put a $36,000 grant to the Rural Routes Transprtation Service in the 2007 Frontenac County budget. They insisted, however, that the money be given as a one-time grant, to help the service survive until more stable funding could be found.
So, it is not surprising that Gary Davison, in particular, was not supportive of a $40,000 funding request from Rural Routes in 2008. That request was rejected by County Council on a 2-2 vote, with Janet Gutowski from Central Frontenac, and Ron Maguire from North Frontenac, supportig the motion.
Gary Davison has two major concerns about Rural Routes. One objection has to do with the fact that Rural Routes serves people in North and Central Frontenac and in Bedford District of South Frontenac, and he argues that county funding, of which South Frontenac residents supply 58%, should not be going to programs that aren't available throughout the county.
Davison's second concern, which he has expressed every time this issue has been raised, is that if the county gets involved in transportation, the cost will inevitably go up and up as demand increases.
In order to address these concerns a transportation study was undertaken last year by county staff.
The study found that there is indeed a need for transportation services for the “at risk” population in Frontenac County. There are many poor and elderly people who no longer have the kinds of family supports that were traditionally available in the past, and in order to access essential services, such as medical appointments, a number of people need help.
These results mirror the results that were found by Northern Frontenac Community Services when they undertook a community needs study four years ago, and Rural Routes was developed for that reason.
Northern Frontenac Community Services has been providing transportation to both children and adults on an ad hoc basis for years, but with limited administrative funding, agency staff had difficulty keeping up with the demand for transportation. Rural Routes was set up as a dispatch service.
Rural Routes, which opened its doors three years ago. is a user-pay service, charging 42 cents per kilometre for drives. This 42 cents is used to pay mileage to volunteer drivers, at the less than market rate of 35 cents per kilometre, leaving 7 cents per kilometre for administration, dispatching, driver training, etc.
Rural Routes has not been able to maintain itself on this money, and thus they approached the County of Frontenac for support.
Municipal support for transportation is common in urban settings, and rural counties in various parts of the province also fund transportation. There is also a provincial incentive for this, as every dollar a municipality spends on transportation can be supplemented with 75 cent grant from the province to be spent on transportation.
Because of this, the mayors of North and Central Frontenac have been pushing for a commitment from the county to support Rural Routes. In response, the mayors of South Frontenac and Frontenac Islands have wondered aloud why, if it is such a priority, North and Central Frontenac townships have not taken this on themselves.
The impasse over transportaion at the county has not been resolved, but there will be a meeting this week that might establish the groundwork for a transportation program that serves North, South and Central Frontenac.
Although Rural Routes operates the only fully constituted dispatch service in the County, it is by no means the only provider of transportation. Rural Visions, South Frontenac’s community services agency, provides transportation for seniors and children, and the Canadian Cancer Society as well as the Kidney Foundation arranges transportation for the people they serve.
A meeting will be held in Harrowsmith to bring all of these agencies together to see if there is an opening to work co-operatively towards a county-wide solution. This might satisfy one of South Frontenac Mayor Davison's concerns.
As far as his fear that transportation will be a bottomless pit which sucks up so much money that there will be none left to maintain roads for everyone to drive on, it will be up to transportation proponents and county staff to come up with controls over spending, which Mayor Davison and South Frontenac Council, can accept.
It would be folly for the county to proceed with transportation funding without the support of South Frontenac Township, which is its largest component.
Rural_visions_08-01
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Feature Article - January 10, 2008 Kate Lett named interim executive director of Rural VISIONS by Jeff GreenBeth Freeland, the founding executive director of the Rural VISIONS Centre, has taken an indefinite leave.
For many residents of South Frontenac, Beth Freeland has been synonymous with Rural VISIONS for the past 20 years. She has worked tirelessly as a fundraiser and an advocate for the agency.
In the agency’s December newsletter, Board Chair Tom Addison broke the news, and wrote that the board and staff of the agency “wish Beth all the best.”
He also announced that Margartet Row, who had been working as the accountant/bookkeeper for Rural VISIONS, has resigned her position.
Subsequently, Kate Lett, who worked for Rural VISIONS for 7 years until she resigned from the position of business manager in September, has come on as interim executive director.
Both Tom Addison and Kate Lett stressed that there will be a seamless continuation of services at the agency,
Rural VISIONS provides a range of community services throughout South Frontenac; including 10 different services for seniors, ranging from meals on wheels to respite care, 4 different family services, including food security and financial assistance, children’s services and licensed child care. They are also partners with other agencies, including the Alzheimers Society, Community Living Kingston, and others.
Rural VISIONS, under the name Central Frontenac Community Services, was founded in 1989 to provide in-home support services for seniors and physically disable adults. The agency was based at the Princess Margaret building in Hartington until 1991, when it was re-located to the basement of the Maple Ridge Seniors apartments in Sydenham. In 2001, the agency moved to the Rural VISIONS Centre on 4419 George Street in Sydenham.
Legalese_08-12
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Legalese - March 27, 2008 Children at RiskSusan Irwin, Lawyer/Executive Director, Rural Legal ServicesThe following column is based on materials made available by Family Law Education for Women. (www.familylawforwomen.com)
Adults in an abusive relationship are not the only victims when there are children involved. Even though the children may not be the direct or even the intended target of the abuse, their unsettled home environment can be considered as putting them at risk of harm and in need of protection by provincial child welfare authorities.
Parents are expected to protect their children from harm in addition to providing for their basic needs, such as food and shelter. Failure to protect a child or to provide or consent to services or treatment to prevent, remedy, or alleviate harm, or the risk of harm to a child, can result in an investigation of the family by the Children’s Aid Society (CAS). If after an investigation the CAS believes that a child is in need of protection, it can remove the child from the home.
Under Ontario’s Child and Family Services Act, (CFSA) a child can be “in need of protection” if he or she:
is left alone, is uncared for or is neglected;
has been abused or is likely to be abused. Abuse includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse. Even if the parent is not abusing the child, the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) can investigate if the parent knew about the abuse, or should have known about it, and did not try to stop it;
sees abuse between adults in the home which affects or could affect the child’s safety and sense of well-being if his or her parent or the person in charge of his or her care does not take steps to protect the child from such risk.
Anyone who reasonably believes that a child may be in need of protection has a duty to report the suspected abuse or neglect to the CAS. Although the duty to report applies to all of us, the onus on professionals (including teachers, social workers, day care workers, doctors and religious leaders) is even greater because their failure to report is an offence under the CFSA.
The duty to report is ongoing. This means that even when a person has already reported suspected abuse, they must report any other time they reasonably believe the child is being abused or neglected.
When the CAS receives a report of suspected abuse or neglect it will record and assess the information to see if it needs to do anything else. If it determines that an investigation is necessary the CAS may visit the family home and talk to the child and the parent or parents. The CAS can also talk to people outside the home such as family members, teachers or neighbours.
An investigation by staff of the CAS is to decide if a child is in need of protection. Their primary focus is the protection of children and the promotion of the child’s best interests and wellbeing. In doing so it is also the role of the CAS to provide support for families and to pursue the least disruptive course of action, provided this can be done while protecting the child and the child’s wellbeing and best interests.
An investigation by the CAS is very serious and if a parent or the person in charge of the child’s care does not address the concerns of the CAS, the CAS may become more involved. Consequently, it is very important for the parent to show that they are taking steps to try to deal with the problems identified by the CAS.
At the end of an investigation if the CAS decides that a child does not need protection, they will not take any further action. However, if it is decided that a child is in need of protection, the CAS must first consider whether the least disruptive course of action, (i.e. leaving the child in the home and working with the family) is appropriate. If not, the child will be removed from the home and taken to a place of safety. A place of safety can be the home of an extended family member or friend.
If a child is removed from the home, the CAS must bring the case before a Judge within 5 days. Child Protection proceedings are complicated. They move quickly and it is important to get legal advice right away.
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.
Letters_08-14
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Letters - April 10, 2008 Letters: April 10Unrest in North Frontenac Township, Rose Bolivin
Maritimer Feels at Home, Kim Perry
Vote No to Composting Facility, Georgia Ferrel
Thank you for Giving, Colleen Fairholme, Canadian Blood Services
Unrest in North Frontenac TownshipCould it be that there is a feeling of unrest and rebelliousness amongst the citizens of North Frontenac township? Are we questioning the concern, action and leadership of the mayor and council regarding issues of obvious importance to their constituents? If you have read the “News” over the last several weeks, it becomes apparent that our citizens are not happy. Aside from the provocative letters, the only news from council was a “Rosy report on septic reinspections” and notice that the township budget will increase by 8.93%.
A perception exists that council is more interested in peace and harmony with their colleagues in upper echelons of government and big business than the menial operation of the township it was elected to manage.
Mayor Maguire continually blames higher levels of government for township problems. Whatever happens is the fault of the library board, the county, the provincial or the federal governments. At the same time he advocates a silent “don’t rock the boat “attitude towards those same agencies. Instead of firm direct action, we hear one of “I’m hoping something might happen next year; let’s wait and see. Don’t get them mad, let’s not irritate them, or let’s wait until they advise us.” While we wait, other township mayors are building fire halls, expanding libraries, fixing roads and bridges, and even demanding a moratorium on uranium exploration.
Although “Letters to the Editor” is an effective means of this sort of venting, they are not the forum to discuss all the issues. Waiting until the next election is not an option. Mayors who would like to have public input into their municipal management sometimes hold “Town Hall” information sessions. This get-together allows constituents to meet with their council reps and discuss openly just how well things are going, what the issues are and what can be expected of council during their remaining term of office. If Mayor Maguire is willing to hold such a meeting, it would be well attended. If council’s constituents think they are doing a good job, it would be a short friendly update, a cup of tea and an adjournment. If there is any real or perceived unrest or rebelliousness amongst attendees, I could only guarantee a much longer meeting.
Rose Boivin
Maritimer Feels at HomeBorn and raised in the Maritimes, I, along with my view of the world, was shaped by the friendliness of the people, the beauty of the countryside and the Maritime culture in general. I am a true, proud Maritimer who never thought, in a million years, I would ever call any other place “home”. I have now lived a dozen years in Frontenac County, the first few years in Sharbot Lake and the remainder in Harrowsmith. For the first few years, I traveled to Kingston to work and in the later years, I found my true calling in Verona.
I am overwhelmed by the passion and commitment shown by the residents and governments of Frontenac County. As I read the Frontenac News, my thoughts are reaffirmed. I am constantly amazed at what our community has to offer.
On March 28, our family’s weekend began at Trinity United Church where my husband and I and three of our children were served dinner by a dedicated group of volunteers. The children curled up in blankets, ate popcorn and watched a movie for an affordable $5, courtesy in part of Central Frontenac Community Services. It was great to spend time with people we know while our children enjoyed a healthy, safe environment with other families. On the way home, our five-year-old daughter told us “That was the best night ever.” The weekend was just beginning. On Saturday morning, I sneaked away to the Frontenac Farmers Market at the Verona Lions Hall while my husband stayed home to feed the cows. At the hall, the children were greeted with costumes and fanfare from the pirates. Over 20 other children enjoyed the fun for over two hours. We ate wholesome homemade food and toured the hall’s new kitchen facilities. Later that evening, after a massive community effort to find us a babysitter, we partook in the Lions’ Pirate Theme Night, an evening of song, dance, extravagant entertainment and a great meal. This year, I noticed an increase in number of newcomers among the crowd. One seasonal resident I spoke with noted “There is something very special happening in Verona, and it is not going unnoticed by Kingstonians.” Sunday morning brought all five of us to the sugar bush where we enjoyed pancakes, covered wagon rides and the great outdoors, and all in time for me to be back to work in Verona by noon.
There is so much to see and do right in our own back yards. Our community should be so very proud of what it has to offer. It is humbling to see and read about the efforts of our neighbours. While good results are satisfying to those who work hard, there is no limit to the personal sacrifices that have been made in the name of community. The list goes on: doctor recruitment efforts, the organization of recreational and cultural events, encouragement of new business, education of our children, welfare of our seniors, assistance to those less fortunate, the promotion of active, healthy living and the protection of our environment.
It is not the years that have made me call this place home, it is the people.
Kim Perry
Vote No to Composting FacilityI live just off Westport Road on Thirteen Island Lake Road, although I am a way in from Westport Road. Nonetheless, I am writing to protest the waste system that Shea is proposing.
It is unfortunate that the most vocal protests are coming from South Frontenac, although the border between Central and South Frontenac runs right along Westport Road, right where this waste dump is proposed, and the residents most affected are in South Frontenac, although it is Central Frontenac which will make the decision.
The company insists that there will be no problem with thisin place receiving waste including organic, i.e. meat waste, from who knows where if Central Frontenac council says okay to the zoning change requested.
I am not normally inclined to write letters of political protest because they usually don't do any good. However, I am sending this letter to the newspaper in hopes that Central Frontenac council members, particularly those for this area - Bill Snyder for one - will find it in their power to say “No” to the zoning change and “No” to this waste system being proposed.
It behooves each one of us to deal with our own consumption waste and not dump it on other areas because we don't want it in our back yard. Well, we don't want it in our back yard either, and there is plenty of evidence that it is not clean and will smell etc. in the hot weather,so please, folks on Central Frontenac council - VOTE “NO” TO THE ZONING CHANGE.
Georgia Ferrell
Thank You for GivingTo the residents of Sharbot Lake and area
Thank you to the Sharbot Lake community for attending the blood donor clinic on April 7 at St James Major Church.
Canadian Blood Services would like to thank all returning and new donors for helping to make Monday’s clinic in Sharbot Lake a success. We were delighted to have collected 33 units of blood; 103% of our goal.
Each donation can help save or improve up to three lives. Therefore, 99 lives will be saved thanks to the generosity of the residents of Sharbot Lake and area. You are true everyday heroes. Every minute of every day, someone in Canada needs blood. It is wonderful to know that by the time you read this, most of the blood collected will have already been shipped to hospitals to help cancer and leukemia patients, victims of car accidents and many others needing life saving surgeries.
As well, we wish to extend our thanks to the Sharbot Lake Lions Club volunteers who always do an excellent job. Hosting such a successful clinic would not be possible without your help. We also want to thank the local businesses, media and organizations that gave us their generous support.
The need for blood is ongoing and we are always looking for donors. Please join us for the next Sharbot Lake Community Blood Donor Clinic on Monday, July 14 from 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm at St James Major Church. For eligibility information or to book an appointment, please contact Canadian Blood Services at 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236-6283)
Colleen Fairholme, Coordinator, Canadian Blood Services
Legalese_08-14
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Legalese - April 10, 2008 Collection agency on the phone?Peter Graham, Lawyer, Rural Legal ServicesI’m going to assume for the purposes of this column that you owe a debt to a creditor and the debt is significantly overdue. I am also assuming that you are not in a position to pay the whole debt immediately and have been contacted by a representative of a collection agency who is demanding payment on behalf of the creditor.
It is important not to ignore the demand. The legal remedy of the creditor is to sue you, which could result in additional costs as well as giving the creditor the right to garnish wages and seize assets. What should you do?
An important first step is to seek the assistance of a Credit Counselling Agency. It will help you analyze your ability to pay off this debt in the context of your general financial situation including income and ongoing expenses.
As collection agencies are in the business of collecting money for creditors, they are sometimes insistent about payment and less than patient in waiting for you to work out your financial situation and ability to pay. Collection agencies are, however, subject to the Collection Agencies Act, which prohibits them from doing certain things.
The Ministry of Government and Consumer Services advises on its web site that the regulations under the Collection Agencies Act forbid collection agencies from:
contacting you until six days have passed from sending you written notice of i)the name of the creditor; ii) the balance owing: and iii) the name of the agency and its authority to demand payment;
continuing to contact you if you did not receive the notice unless a second copy of the written notice is sent to an address provided by you, and then contact may only be made six days after sending notice;
contacting you if you send a registered letter to the agency saying that you dispute the debt and suggest the matter be taken to court;
contacting you if you or your lawyer notify the agency by registered mail to communicate only with your lawyer, and you provide the lawyer's name, address and telephone number;
contacting you on Sunday, except between the hours of 1PM and 5PM, and on a holiday;
contacting you other than by ordinary mail more than three times in a seven-day period without your consent, once the agency has actually spoken with you;
using threatening, profane, intimidating or coercive language, or using undue, excessive or unreasonable pressure;
giving false or misleading information to any person;
contacting your employer except on one occasion to obtain your employment information, unless your employer has guaranteed the debt, the call is in respect of a court order or wage assignment or if you have provided written authorization to contact your employer;
contacting your spouse, a member of your family or household, or a relative, neighbour or acquaintance except to obtain your address and telephone number unless the person contacted has guaranteed the debt or you have given permission for the person to be contacted.If a collection agency is contravening the regulations, you can make a complaint to the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services at 1-800-889-9768. If you have any questions or need assistance, you can also give us a call at the legal clinic.
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.
Artemesia
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Feature Article - June 19, 2008 Local artists launch “Artemisia” gallery in Westportby Julie Druker
Last week the gallery was open to receive works to be juried. A call was sent out to local artists asking for submissions and over 20 artists responded. Georgia Ferrell explains that the gallery “is accepting original hand made work in various mediums.” She adds, “The jurying process will allow for quality control and establish a sense of cohesion to the works that are represented.”
In addition to selling their own individual fine art works, these three ladies have managed to cover quite a few bases in the services they are offering due to their various backgrounds.
Bonnie McLean has an MFA in art conservation from Queen’s University and will offer her professional cleaning and restoration services. Donna Laroque, trained as an illustrator, will offer her commercial artwork services including promotional graphics, logos and signs. Georgia Ferrell, who works primarily as a sculptor, will offer classes and workshops in various mediums.
As far as managing the gallery, Bonnie will manage the finances, Georgia, public relations and Donna will cover marketing. Seems like they have it all figured out. Donna admits that “our individual talents really complement one another.”
The excitement mounts as the gorgeously lit space sits in wait of the objects that will soon adorn it. The owners admit “They can hardly wait to get going.”
Westport was chosen since there “seemed to be the need here,” says Ferrell. She adds, “We are a gallery that is offering 100% totally original, hand made artwork.” Bonnie explains how “the feedback from the community has been really positive and welcoming. Steve Scanlon from Stillwater Books and the Rideau Valley Artists Association have all been very supportive.”
While the gallery will act as a base for sales and specific art services, the space will also be used as personal work studios for the three artists. The summer will be a busy time for sales and services while the winter months will focus more on classes and workshops.
The owners look forward to hosting special arts related events throughout the year and plan to invite various artists to present, speak about and/or perform their works. Sounds like Artemisia may be the new place to be in Westport.
The Gallery will open Saturday, June 21 and will be open for the summer 7 days a week, Sunday-Thursday from 10-5, and Friday and Saturday from 10-7. For more information, go to their blog at www.artemesiagallery.blogspot.com or call 613-273-8775 for more information.
Broadband_08-26
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Feature Article - July 3, 2008 Broadband initiative ramping up in Cloyne, Plevna and Mountain GroveBy Jeff GreenThe drive for rural broadband has been slow, frustrating and complicated in rural Eastern Ontario, and in the northern parts of Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Counties it has never seemed to be able to get off the ground.
But now, finally, that seems to be on the verge of changing.
Towers have been constructed in Cloyne, Plevna and Mountain Grove to deliver broadband service to the schools in those communities, and with some help from the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation, a company based in Montreal, OmniGlobe Networks, will be providing internet service on a commercial basis using those towers, according to a media release that came out early this week.
Players that are involved in this initiative include Utilities Kingston, which was contracted by the Limestone School Board to build the infrastructure necessary to deliver faster internet service to the rural schools.
“We are looking forward to working with OmniGlobe Networks to fulfill this important rural infrastructure initiative that is assisting us to provide broadband services to schools in Plevna, Mountain Grove, and Cloyne. Furthermore, we couldn’t have done it without the commitment and support of the Limestone District School Board.” said Jim Keech, Utilities Kingston CEO.
Anne Prichard, the executive director of the Frontenac CFDC, has been working for several years now on helping to piece together broadband service throughout Frontenac County, and she told the News earlier this week that it will not likely be possible to instantly determine exactly which locations will be reached by the service being provided off the new towers.
“Terrain is a big factor,” she said, “in some cases it may require a site visit for the provider to confirm it can deliver service to a specific location.”
A map was produced a few years ago which marked off the areas where service is available in Eastern Ontario, but it was not entirely accurate, and a lot has happened since then with the advent of wireless service. Once this new service is up and running, Prichard expects that the service gaps in Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Counties will be clearly determined.
“We may be looking at neo-net satellite fixes for those households and businesses,” Prichard said.
Broadband service is now delivered in Frontenac County through a variety of means: through telephone lines by Bell Canada and North Frontenac Telephone Company in many parts of Central Frontenac, and using wireless signals delivered from towers by KOS Kingston from a tower in Sydenham and by Occam communications from a tower near Hartington.
The OmniGlobe service constitutes the first opportunity for broadband in North Frontenac and Addington Highlands, with the exception of satellite-based services that are being used by a few business customers.
Details about where the service will be offered and what the end cost to consumers will be are being rolled out this month.
OmniGlobe will be making a presentation to Addington Highlands Council and the AHEAD economic development committee next Monday in Flinton.
In addition to the new service provider coming on stream, the Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) will be providing internet training in Frontenac County in the coming months.
Legalese_08-40
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Legalese - October 9, 2008 Access to Older Adults – Part 2[This article, written by Graham Webb, Staff Lawyer at the Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) in Toronto, first appeared in the Summer 2008 edition of the ACE newsletter. ACE, like Rural Legal Services, is a community legal clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario. We thank ACE for permission to share Graham’s insights with you.]
Options to Facilitate Contact
Non-Confrontational Communications - The key to resolving issues is to foster nonconfrontational communications that worked in the past with the older adult and the other person under whose control he or she is living.The Police and the Criminal Code of Canada - If all avenues of communications are closed, it might be possible to ask the local police to visit the older person and make inquiries about whether he or she wishes to live in the present situation, and to have contact with friends and other family members. Forcible confinement is a criminal offence under section 279(2) of the Criminal Code of Canada, but an investigation and charge of this type would be extremely unlikely.
More often, if involved, the police would merely try to meet with the older person to ask about his or her wishes. If it turns out that the older person appears to be mentally capable and unwilling to have communication with the friends or family members in question, those wishes must be respected. If the older person appears to be incapable, and unwilling to have communication, then those incapable wishes might also be respected unless there is a strong reason to disregard them.
Court Appointed Guardians - As a last resort, if the older person appears to be incapable of making his or her own personal care decisions, a friend or family member could bring an application to the Superior Court of Justice to be appointed as the older person’s guardian. This is a very expensive and complex legal procedure so it is beneficial for the person applying for guardianship to retain a lawyer. Legal fees would need to be paid, which may eventually be reimbursed from the older person’s estate if the application succeeds and there is enough money in the estate to allow reimbursement. Further, court proceedings are usually highly confrontational resulting in the division of families and the destruction of relationships. It is also very intrusive into the life of the older person who, capable or not, may be hostile to being placed under guardianship. However, where an incapable older adult is placed in a position of harm by the denial of access to friends and family, a guardianship application may be the only legal recourse.
Investigations by the Public Guardian and Trustee The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee has a Guardianship Investigations Unit that can investigate allegations where a person incapable of personal care decisions is suffering or is at risk of suffering serious adverse effects. The investigation may result in the court appointing the Public Guardian and Trustee as the person’s guardian on a temporary basis. The Public Guardian and Trustee can be contacted at 416-327-6348 or 1-800-366-0335.
Conclusion: Friends and family of older adults, either living independently or in settings where another person has control over access to the older adult, frequently report difficulty and confrontation in arranging personal contact with their loved one. In cases where personal contact between the older person and somebody important in his or her life is denied, the issue of choice should be front and centre. It is important to know whether the older person is voluntarily choosing to avoid contact or whether there is some other reason beyond the person’s control.
Part 1 / Part 2
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.
Cfdc_08-39
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Feature Article - October 2, 2008 Frontenac CFDC fulfills it’s missionBy Julie Druker
Almost 70 people filled the Verona’s Lions Hall early Tuesday morning for breakfast and to attend Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation’s annual AGM, 40 more people than attended their first AGM 5 years ago. Perhaps it is a sign of the FCFDC’s success in supporting and growing local business in the Frontenacs and adhering to its mission statement of “building business and growing communities.”
Executive director Anne Prichard summarized some of the accomplishments of the organization this year. Fifty four projects were completed and a total of $880,000 in loans were dispersed and 38 new jobs were created.
Some of the local businesses who benefited this year included Nowell Motors in Cloyne, Frontenac Outfitters in Sydenham, and the communities of Sydenham, Verona and Wolfe Island for their inclusion in OMAFRA’s First Impressions Community Exchange program which recently began this year.
In the 4.5 years of its existence, the FCFDC has lent 3.5 million dollars to community businesses.
Prichard described the FCFDC’s Strategic Plan that has been developed for 2008-2011.Their two overall priorities include:
“to develop new year-round well-paid employment opportunities and
“to improve the visual appeal, range and local services and vitality of our small communities to enhance our rural lifestyles.
Broadband infrastructure, tourism, and environmental and agricultural projects will also be focused on..
The FCFDC’s online directory now includes over 300 local businesses and it receives over 225 hits per week.
Guest speakers included Shawn Gee of Ockham Communications and Nigel Maund of OmniGlobe, two companies that have both been closely involved with the FCFDC in bringing broadband services and high speed internet to northern communities and local businesses, a long time goal of the FCFDC since their inception.
Gee’s company received support from the FCFDC and is proof that the kind of support offered can really make a difference to small business in their initial start up.
Gee explained, “We are a local company that has identified a market need and a community need and the FCFDC had the foresight to acknowledge that there is a need and we have been able to act on it.”
He continued, “Over the last year we have been able to go from nothing… to having over 200 paying customers on our network.
Nigel Maund of OmniGlobe focused on his company’s work with helping to develop broadband services in the north and his continued plans to expand on this work. His company will be holding information sessions in the area this week.(see current ads)
Board member Christine Ward focused on the importance of the FCFDC board, their diversity and the various skills they have to offer. She also explained their focus this year on a campaign to advertise all of the volunteer opportunities that are available to those who might become want to become involved.
Near the meetings end, Linda Thomas, a life time resident of Frontenac County and a retired administrator at Queen’s University in Health Services and Policy Research was elected as the new Director of the board.
Congratulations Linda and it looks as though the FCFDC is well on its way to another exciting year focused on generating new business ventures and new business growth in the Frontenacs.
Nf_council_08-39
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Feature Article - October 2, 2008 North Frontenac CouncilBy Jeff GreenStaff proposal for North Frontenac Library branches deferred
The Plevna branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library has been closed for the past 18 months because of mould problems, and a plan by the Township of North Frontenac to purchase a portable building from the Limestone District School Board to house the library has been embraced by Kingston Frontenac Library Staff.
However, the solution they are proposing may not be popular in the hamlet of Ompah, which is located 10 kilometres from Plevna, because a library staff report recommended that the two branches be amalgamated, probably in Plevna.
“The size of this portable is greater than Plevna and Ompah combined, thereby offering an opportunity to consolidate and improve services at a location beneficial to both communities,” is one of the recommendations in a report by Patricia Enright (rural branch manager) and Doug Brown (facilities manager) that was presented to the library board last Wednesday, September 24.
The report was accompanied by a proposed resolution which set out that the township would be required to purchase and outfit the portable and find a suitable location for it, and the library would then “provide and set up the book collection, shelving, furniture and equipment.”
All of this is in keeping with the relationship between the library and all of the municipalities it serves. The municipalities provide facilities, and the library provides service.
It is a further recommendation, “that the library transfer the combined library collections, staff, and hours from Ompah/Plevna to the new facility”. This recommendation is more controversial and led the library board to defer the entire matter until at least the next meeting of the library board in late October.
Frontenac County Warden Jim Vanden Hoek is the county council representative to the library board, and when he received his meeting agenda two days before the meeting (September 23) he contacted North Frontenac Township to find out what they thought about the proposal.
North Frontenac Chief Administrator Cheryl Robson said the library staff proposal seemed premature to her. “Our council has not decided whether to get the portable or not. We have to look at all the costs involved, including moving costs, repairs, hooking up to hydro and internet, and putting in washroom facilities. As far as consolidating branches, that was news to us,” Robson said.
North Frontenac Deputy Mayor Jim Beam sent an email back to Jim Vanden Hoek before the library board meeting asking that the matter be deferred if possible, and suggesting that a meeting take place between the township and the library board and staff.
Vanden Hoek pushed for deferral at the board meeting.
“There was discussion about amending the motion, but it was preferable to defer it, so we could hear from North Frontenac,” Vanden Hoek said.
Chief Librarian Deborah Defoe described the report from staff to the board as “premature. The board really felt it was premature to discuss it when the township council had not really discussed it fully.”
Asked whether it was possible to establish a new branch in the portable without closing the existing Ompah branch, Defoe said, “Anything is possible, but we will have to look at operating costs. The portable is larger than the Plevna and Ompah branches combined, so that will have to be taken into account.”
Secession plan to be brought to the public
Ever since North Frontenac Council decided it wanted to look at secession from Frontenac County there has been a standing item on the council agenda to discuss putting out a request for proposal for a consultant to consider how the township could go about becoming a single-tier municipality.
It is through Frontenac County, and the county’s relationship with the City of Kingston and the Province of Ontario, that services such as ambulance and long term care, and social services such as welfare, childcare, and disability support, are funded for so-called “lower tier municipalities”. How this could be done differently would be one of the issues that a consultant would have to consider.
At the council meeting on Sept. 11, Deputy Mayor Jim Beam had said he was concerned that the RFP was not being pushed forward and he wondered where the whole thing was going.
“I think we should decide whether we are serious about this, and if so, get on with it,” he said at the time.
At the Sept. 25 council meeting, Mayor Maguire made reference to Beam's concern. “I realize you are wondering where this is going,” Maguire said to Beam, “but there are two ways of looking at this. One is to find out what are the steps that we have to take to ensure it would be appropriate to make any decision in this direction. The other is to have enough information to justify why we would want to separate. Every two weeks we seem to be getting squeezed or getting the short end of the stick or losing our assets.”
Jim Beam agreed with Maguire.
“Every time I turn over a piece of paper it is a reflection of the disregard towards the north,” he said. “But we don’t want to get the cart before the horse here. People are saying that there has to be public consultation. We need to have input from the ratepayers before we go much further with this.”
Mayor Maguire suggested that the next six months will be critical. “We will then have our house in order, and we’ll know exactly what to tell them [the ratepayers]. If we need to go to a municipal-wide referendum we can consider that.”
Council will consider establishing a sub-committee on the matter.
