Re – meet the candidates – Central Frontenac

Tammy Scott | Oct 19, 2022

This year I had the opportunity to attend all four 'meet the candidate evenings' in Central Frontenac.

It was very nice to see young new faces join the race. I would like to applaud each of you for putting yourself out there, to try to become a new face in the council chair.

At the District #4 meeting, I asked the question: 'Was the reason behind reducing the speed limit on 98% of the roads because the Township was looking at reducing the maintaince done on these roads'? (not grading or ploughing snow, until X amount of centimeters on the roads)

The chair of the meeting, directed this question to a current councillor;

This councillor felt that the Mayor and CAO would be the best to answer this question. They were at the meeting as observers.

The mayor attempted to answer; but was dancing around the question asked.

The last few years, with evening snow storms, the roads have not been maintained early enough for buses to run in this municipality. Now with the speed limits lowered it will only get worse. I was sure that I had read something different in The Frontenac News. I thought; wonder if good old google on the computer could help; so i asked the question and amazingly up it popped in the Frontenac News, written July 15/2020 by Craig Bakay. These were the words quoted from the Public Works Manager: "the driving force behind the change was allowing the township to achieve minimum maintenance standards. Just that with reduced limits, it means our liability is reduced."

Well Mayor Smith and CAO MacMunn. That’s the correct answer.

It's sad when the leader of the council & CAO gave a prevaricated answer.

At District #2 meeting, a new face running for a council seat, stated that all the roads where speed limits were dropped are not properly posted. This person was educated and worked in that field before retirement. The currant councillor in District #2 stated he would like to see the Pickleball courts and rink completed in Sharbot Lake. I thought the public voted you in to represent District #2 (Olden), and in your opening statement, you were more concerned about seeing things completed in Sharbot Lake.

At District #3 the current councillor stood up and stated: 'you should rethink your decision to run for council as it takes up a lot of time and family life’. this was directed at the two younger faces that are running for a district #3 council seat.

In my opinion they should be encouraged and not discourage. This same councillor also stated "my wife answers all my e-mails and does my paper work; I am lucky she is a secretary.” WOWERS! Is this not a big breach of confidentiality.”

In District #1 there are some very strong voices competing for a seat.

Well, I may be bit late writing this, but i feel very strongly, that the public that was unable to attend these meetings should be aware of who is representing our municipality. Its time people to see a few new faces at the council table and stop spending the tax payers money foolishly.

A concerned tax payer,

Tammy Scott