Sunday Lake Road to get full township service.

Residents from the Sunday Lake Association received an early Christmas present this week when Council reversed their long standing refusal to consider providing maintenance on the Sunday Lake Road.

The road runs between Road 509 and Sunday Lake, west of Ompah. It was built by the developer of the Sunday Lake subdivision back in 1983. At the time the road was deeded to Palmerston-Canonto Township under an agreement that the maintenance would be covered by the residents who lived on the road and not the township, although the possibility of the township taking over maintenance of Sunday Lake Road was left open.

After amalgamation in 1998, the roads department of North Frontenac did do maintenance on Sunday Lake Road without council approval for a time, but in 2005 then Mayor Ron Maguire learned of the practice and put an end to it.

Since then Sunday Lake residents have asked at least twice that the road join the regular roster of township-maintained roads. The latest attempt started in the summer of 2012 and has continued on this year.

The residents argue that the assessment of properties on the road tops $6,000,000, which leads to over $70,000 in taxation, and that the township also owns a boat launch and beach at the end of the road. The township's lawyer has advised that the township faces liability if they do not take responsibility for the road leading to a property that they advertise as a township asset open to the public.

A delegation came to council last month and once again requested that the road be maintained by the township. At that time Mayor Clayton told the delegates a decision would be made on November 25.

The item was not included in the council agenda package because although Clayton had made a promise to the residents no direction was given to staff to bring the item back to this week's agenda.

Public Works Manager Jim Phillips said he is preparing a report on the state of repair of un-maintained township roads and will be recommending how and when the township should take them on. The report will be ready in time for the December meeting of Council.

Nonetheless a motion was put forward to take on maintenance of the road immediately. Councilors Lonnie Watkins and Gerry Martin both suggested that the motion be deferred until Phillips' report is presented.

“I hate to see this go down because we don't have enough information and then it can't come back for a year” said Watkins.

The vote went through nonetheless. Four members of Council (Inglis, Hunter, Watkins and Clayton), supported the motion and two (Perry, Martin) voted against it.

Electronic voting coming to NF

Next year's municipal election in North Frontenac will feature a new voting system. Joining with townships such as Addington Highlands, Tay Valley and South Frontenac, North Frontenac voters will receive a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN), which give them one time access to Internet or telephone voting. The new system will replace the paper voting system that has been in place and will save staff time and money.

“It will also provide a better opportunity for our seasonal residents to vote because they will be able to vote instantly wherever they are,” said CAO Cheryl Robson.

“When I saw how much work was involved in the old system and how long it took for the results to come in, I thought there has to be a better way,” said Councilor Betty Hunter.

The township will put out an RFP seeking a provider for the new service.

Planning with the County

Council approved, in principle, severing ties with its current planner, Glenn Tunnock, and entering into a service contract with the Frontenac County Planning Department. Negotiations will now begin towards finalizing a formal contract with the County.

“This won't likely take effect until mid-way through next year,” said Clerk/Planning Co-ordinator Jenny Duhamel, “I think we should give Mr. Tunnock several months notice as a courtesy.”

Tunnock Planning has provided service for North Frontenac since the township came into existence in 1998.

Meeting dates for 2014.

Council will continue to meet every third week in 2014, and all meetings will be held upstairs at the Clar-Mil fire hall on Road 506 (adjacent to the township office).

SF budget set for approval

Based on direction from Council to bring in a budget with an increase of under 3% for properties with an average increase in “programmed assessment” by MPAC (the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation), staff presented a few changes to the 2014 budget after learning that a transfer fund from the Province of Ontario has been cut by $150,000.

The main sources of extra funds come from one-time spending programs that will be covered through reserves rather than new taxation.

The only thing left is for the Public Works Department to find $77,000 in savings. Those cuts were not made last week because Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth was on vacation.

“I will have the cuts done by Thursday,” Segsworth said. "I’m inclined to reduce here and there some of our dependence on contracting services. We have a fixed number of employees; I’d like to keep them fully engaged in 2014.”

“I’m not necessarily going to be ready to vote on this until I see what the cuts from public works look like,” said Councilor Ron Vandewal.

“If we can see those changes next week, I don’t see why we can’t move this whole thing to a vote next week,” said Mayor Davison.

Assuming the pubic works cuts come through, the township will levy $700,000 more from ratepayers in 2014 than they did in 2013, an increase of 5.59%, but the impact on the average ratepayer, according to the Treasury department, will be a 2.9% increase, within the 3% limit imposed by Council.

Standardised fees for usage of township halls

South Frontenac is one of the few remaining townships whose halls have remained in the hands of local committees, which impose their own billing systems, but that is about to change.

A report by Angela Maddocks, acting Recreation Co-ordinator, calls for all three township halls - Bedford (Glendower), Storrington, and Harris Park 
(Perth Road) – to charge the same fees and use a standardized booking form.

The suggested fees are $50 for four hours for residents ($70 with the use of the kitchen/bar) and $85 for non-residents ($110 with kitchen/bar)

“Will this still allow us to have standard agreements with long term users?” asked Councilor Cam Naish.

“Do you mean waiving fees?” asked Mayor Davison

“Yes” said Naish

“Other than official committees of council, this applies to everyone,” said Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Orr.

“What about the church that donated all the cutlery and dishes for the Storrington Hall; we will have to reconcile that,” said Naish.

“This was brought to the local recreation committees; everyone should know it is coming,” said Orr.

Fire Master Plan

Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough made a comprehensive presentation of the preliminary fire hall implementation plan and proposals for a township fire master plan.

Highlights included consideration of the future of Fire Hall #9, which is located on Burnt Hills Road in the far eastern portion of the township in Storrington District. The fire hall study recommends either moving the hall or closing it.

When pressed as to what he would recommend, Chesebrough said he thought it best to leave the hall where it is for at least a year, to give the fire service an opportunity to gather comprehensive data about one year’s service calls. “This will give us a baseline to see exactly what staffing levels we need, what kind of equipment we need and what demands there are on each of our halls” said Chesebrough.

The Perth Road Hall is slated to be replaced in 2015, and upgrades, mainly to the electrical and fire separation doors, are planned at a number of the other halls.

South Frontenac is not alone in not yet having a Fire Master Plan in place, but Cheseborough said the department has a solid base in the level of training and commitment of its firefighters.

“Our staff is made up of some of the most highly trained individuals in the business. We are one of the most highly recommended departments anywhere in the Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington region. I would put them up against any other department. A lot of times we take our firefighters for granted, but we should appreciate what we have,” he said.

In summing up, he said in some respects the background consultant reports for the South Frontenac master plan call for the department to conform to certain protocols that do not fit the reality in South Frontenac, but South Frontenac is not bound to follow those recommendations in all cases.

“We are not going to be measured by the standard of any other department. We are going to be measured by a standard that we set for ourselves,” Cheseborough concluded.

The secession talk from two members of Kingston City Council was never really more than talk, and chances are that talk has now come to an end.

It does raise an interesting idea, however.

One of the wards involved, Countryside Ward, would be a viable addition to Frontenac County, which it was part of until it was annexed to Kingston in 1998 with municipal amalgamation. Countryside could become the second largest township in Frontenac County,

But the simplest and perhaps most viable option, would be for Countryside to join South Frontenac Township. This would save the cost and headache of setting up a new township office, a new council, new bylaws, a works department, official plans, etc. - all the costly trappings of a township.

No one on South Frontenac Council, much less Mayor Gary Davison, has jumped into the debate about the future of the two renegade Kingston City councilors and their wards. South Frontenac has never looked at expansion as an option, and it is not about to press the issue and upset the politicians in the City of Kingston

However, when you look at it, Countryside ward could just as easily extend Frontenac County south to the 401 as it expands Kingston to the north of the 401.

Social services and land ambulance are already integrated between the city and the county so there would be no change there. Moreover, Frontenac County's administrative offices and largest piece of infrastructure, the Fairmount Home, are in fact located in Countryside ward, and wouldn't it be nice if those assets magically moved back into the county.

There is no city bus service in Countryside ward, no city water and sewer services except in two small subdivisions, and no other city-owned infrastructure to speak of.

But if there would be little for Countryside residents to lose by leaving Kingston, what would there be to gain?

Quite a bit, actually, in property tax savings.

In 2013, a South Frontenac resident living in a home valued at $200,000 paid about $1,900 in municipal tax. A Countryside resident living in a home valued at $200,000 paid about $2,700.

Essentially with little or no difference in municipal services, Countryside residents pay over 40% more in taxes than South Frontenac residents.

If I were going door-to-door in Countryside ward, requesting that people sign a petition asking Kingston city council to call a referendum on secession, I would use the following slogan: "Let’s leave Kingston and save money".

Thus far, only two lonely ward politicians are talking secession, and without a large and vocal groundswell of support by residents, it is hard to imagine that Kingston city councilors, who are not taking the secession talk very well, will do anything but ignore it.

But on paper at least, the idea of Countryside ward joining South Frontenac would be relatively simple. Aside from changing the back and forth flow of money between municipalities, nothing would change on the ground.

Fire at Waste Site

Indications are that a fire that severely damaged the recycle bin at the Weslemkoon Waste Site in the north west portion of the township was deliberately set.

“It appears the fire started at both sides of the bin at the same time, so it's not likely a cigarette butt or something like that that caused it,” Public Works Manager Royce Rosenblath told Council at a meeting in Denbigh on Monday night, November 18.

The bin will need to be sandblasted and repainted, which will cost “some thousands” Rosenblath said, and will also result in a shorter lifespan for the bin, which will be more subject to rust in the future. He also said that police believe a recent break-in at the site may have been done by the same perpetrator. A fire extinguisher and a box of official Addington Highlands Clear garbage bags were taken in that incident, which took place earlier this fall.

The waste site has been closed since the fire took place two weeks ago, but Council is planning to re-open it.

“I'm not sure what we can do to secure that site when it is closed,” said Reeve Henry Hogg, “there is no power at the site and no Bell line. I suppose we could put in a camera.”

“How far is the site in Tudor and Cashel [township] from our site,” asked Councilor Adam Snider.

“Not far” said Hogg.

“Maybe we could contract with them to take our waste, just for the winter,” said Snider.

“That would involve them getting a change in their Certificate of Approval from the Ministry of the Environment, if they were even interested,” said Rosenblath.

The township has a smaller surplus recycle bin that they will bring to the site in order to re-open it while the large bin is being repaired. Adam Snider put forward a motion that the township contact Tudor and Cashel to see if there is a possibility that, in the longer run, waste site services for Addington Highlands residents in the area could be taken over by Tudor and Cashel under a contract with Addington Highlands. The motion was seconded by Councilor Helen Yanch and approved.

Christmas coming early

Council was in a spending mood this week. When Helen Yanch moved that a pitch for advertising in the Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Command “Military Service Recognition Book” be received for information, no one stepped forward to second the motion.

Instead, a subsequent motion to purchase a 1/10 page business card ad in the book at a cost of $275 was approved unanimously.

As well, Council decided to donate $200 to the Land O'Lakes Lions Club for the Santa Claus parade, which will be held on Sat. Nov. 30, leaving from the Kaladar Community Centre at 10 am.

Finding money for Streetlight Retrofit

Earlier this month, the township committed to putting in new energy-efficient dark sky-friendly lighting on township roads, works yards, fire halls, and other township facilities, at a cost of $117,000.

Federal Gas Tax Rebate funds, which bring in about $77,000 each year, are applicable to this type of project, and if the township used the 2014 funds to pay for most of the project and self-financed the remaining $44,000 until the 2015 gas tax funds come, the project can be completed without using money from the annual levy to township ratepayers.

“We have always used gas tax funds for roads projects,” said Reeve Hogg, “So if we use them for this we will just have to levy more for roads.”

“We do have to show an improved environmental impact from the gas tax projects,” said Clerk Jack Pauhl, “and it might be easier with this than with roads projects.”

Council did not decide whether or not to use gas tax funds for street lighting. They will re-visit the issue later on.

Fire hall meeting - A special meeting is being held this week (it was actually scheduled for Wednesday morning – November 20 – while this paper was being printed) to look at the proposal and construction costs to build a fire hall on a lot the township has purchased on Road 41 just south of Northbrook. 

Proposed Budget calls for 5.59% levy increase

Among the highlights of the draft 2014 South Frontenac budget is a $700,000 increase in the total levy to ratepayers, an increase of 5.59%.

Council went over the budget in detail during a 5 hour meeting on Saturday, November 16, and will meet again to look for potential savings in late November or early December. The impact of the proposed levy increase will vary among ratepayers, based on variations in individual property assessment increases that are determined by MPAC (the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation)

The preliminary budget for 2014 can be viewed here. South Frontenac 2014 Preliminary Budget.

Township Planner to Address County

Council agreed that Lindsay Mills, the township’s planner, should request delegation status at the County’ Council’s December 4 meeting to present his comments on the second draft of the County’s Official Plan.

Dog Tag Costs Raised

Following discussion at Committee of the Whole, Council voted to raise animal control fees and shorten deadlines: dog tags purchased prior to the last day of February will cost $15: after that the cost will increase to $30. Kennel licences will go up to $125 before the end of February, and $150 afterwards. The charge for reclaiming dogs from the Humane Society will be increased from $75 to $100, and the duration dogs will be held will be reduced from five days to three.

The fees charged by the Kingston Humane Society have increased to the point where they are not adequately offset by the township’s animal control budget, and this is the first increase in township fees since 2002.

Concerns re Proposed Hartington Subdivision

A lengthy letter from Hartington resident Michelle Foxton was tabled. In it, Foxton, a former township councilor, listed a number of issues that would need to be addressed in relation to the proposed 47-unit subdivision, which would run from Boyce Road to Petworth Road. In particular, she expressed grave concern about the effects the development might have on water quality and quantity in what seems to be an area with a history of water problems.

Mayor Davison said that although final approval of subdivisions lies with Frontenac County Council, the county will require the township to hold a public meeting to hear residents’ concerns. Davison added that most of Foxton’s questions will be addressed during the processing of the application, by the various agencies that will be consulted. 

Back to HomeLetters - May 7, 2009Letters: May 7

Re: CF Council Visioning Sessions, Larry Chiarot

Re: CF Council Visioning Sessions

It was gratifying to read that the Central Frontenac Council (see CF Council, April 23) has decided that a 'Public Visioning Session' will take place soon.

It was also gratifying to hear the Central Frontenac Railway Museum mentioned, however in error. The proposal of the Railway Museum/Library/Office Space was put before Council first, seven years ago, and several times since, not TWO as stated.

A comment in Council doubted that the site of the Railway Museum would accommodate ample parking and septic space. Take a closer look at the existing office and the kind of space that presently exists.

Notwithstanding the fact the site of the proposed Railway Museum is owned by the Township, and that the building would accommodate a library and office space - which would open the ' basement of the Township building, and get rid of the 'portables', and re-open the parking spaces, and further, that the new building would cost the Township Zero Dollars, because needed funds for the building would be raised by the Central Frontenac Railway Museum Committee for a building that would be owned by the Township.....but enough said.

Once again, I was pleased that the Central Frontenac Railway Museum was mentioned by Council, and that a 'Public Visioning Session' will soon take place.

Larry Chiarot

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 7, 2009 Addington Highlands CouncilBy Jeff Green

AH flat lines budget, hopes to avoid borrowing if grants come through

Thanks to an increase in provincial transfers through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), Addington Highlands Township will be levying the same amount of money, about $1.7 million, from its ratepayers as it did last year.

The tax burden will be shared out differently, however, as the result of property reassessment that was done last year.

The tax rate is down by about 5%, but most ratepayers saw at least some increase in their assessment, which is being phased in over four years.

In general, waterfront ratepayers saw greater increases, and the inexorable shift of the tax burden in that direction will continue over the next four years.

The township has enough money set aside to cover most of its share of costs should it receive any or all of the infrastructure grants that council applied for on May 1, all of which require the township to pay 1/3 of the cost of construction

The township has applied for a $1.5 million upgrade to the Matawatchan Road, and has money available to cover the township’s estimated 2009 portion of that project’s costs.

Money has also been set aside for the township garage upgrade in Denbigh and a new fire hall in Northbrook, which were also included in grant applications. Since all of the projects would not have to be completed until March 2011 if the grants come through, money could be raised for them in the 2010 budget if required.

Treasurer Jack Pauhl said, “The fire hall could require some borrowing, at some point, but not in 2009”.

The 2009 budget includes money for a new grader for the roads department, which will be purchased once the budget receives final approval on May 18. Two companies, Volvo and John Deere, have provided the roads department with demonstrator models that are being tested this week.

One final addition to the budget was approved at Monday’s council meeting (May 4), a one-time $5,000 contribution to the library reserve fund. The library also received a $5,000 increase in operating funds this year, to around $25,000.

Recycling meeting – A number of councilors will be traveling to Renfrew next week for a meeting about a contemplated purchase of a recycling facility there. A number of townships, including North Frontenac, are looking at a joint venture, which could solve some of their collective recycling woes.

Business Breakfast – On May 20, the AHEAD committee will be holding their spring business breakfast at Addison's restaurant on Hwy. 41 south of Northbrook. Guest speakers from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will speak on the subject of “How business can survive in tough economic times”.

The event runs from 8:00 until 9:30 at a cost of $6. Interested parties, including business people from the Frontenac side of the Hwy. 41 corridor, should call Larry Pealow for more details or to reserve a spot - 336-2522. The breakfast is limited to 40 participants. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 14, 2009 Central Frontenac Councilby Jeff Green

A nice place to pay taxes but can you build there?

Gary Racine and Richard Clippindale brought a rather expensive tale of woe to Central Frontenac Council on Monday night (May 11) on behalf of the Bridgen's Island Associates Limited (BIAL).

The BIAL are a group of 14 lot owners on Bridgen's Island, which is located off Opeongo Point on Eagle Lake in the former Hinchinbrooke Township. Ten of the members of the association have built seasonal cottages on the water access island, but in 2004-2005 Central Frontenac informed the islanders that there would be no more building permits issued until a Plan of Subdivision is approved.

Members of the association “agreed unanimously,” according to a submission to Council by Racine and Clippindale, “that, in justice to our holders of undeveloped lots, we would explore with the township whether a subdivision arrangement could be approved to allow development for all our members.”

Four years and $100,000 later, the BIAL is still waiting for approval, and there may be more hurdles in the way now than were apparent five years ago.

Subdivision approval requires a zoning amendment by Central Frontenac, followed by subdivision approval by Frontenac County, and last year the Province of Ontario, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, declared Eagle Lake a “Trout Sensitive Lake” prohibiting development on newly created lots within 300 metres of the water.

According to Clippindale, the Bridgen’s Islanders have practiced environmental stewardship since the association was founded in the early 1970's. “We have been environmentally sensitive since the start, beyond or in advance of township requirements. There are no boathouses and we have mutual covenants on shoreline protection,” he said.

The 14 members of the association have paid an average of $7,000 in fees to pay for planning costs at the township and county levels, even though the township waived certain fees back in 2005. The four property owners who have never built on their lots have now paid about $20,000 each in property taxes and development fees, and as a result, the association was appearing before council with a simple request.

“We need clarity from council on this,” said Racine. “We need to know if this plan of subdivision can be approved before we go back to our members to look at our future options, legal or otherwise. If you, as a council, cannot support us enthusiastically, we would like to hear that now.”

“What is the county saying to you?” asked Councilor Frances Smith.

“They have not said one way or another,” replied Racine.

Racine also said the association held a meeting with officials from the Ministries of the Environment and Municipal Affairs and Housing, who “said they were just seeking information and did not make any commitments to us.”

“Well I for one think we should express our support for this,” said Frances Smith, and her opinion proved consistent with that of the other members of Council.

“We have a planning report coming,” said Mayor Gutowski, who read out a motion committing the township to making a decision on their part of the puzzle within 30 days.

Ultimately, the question of when the clock started on the ‘plan of subdivision’ process could be critical. Although the Bridgen’s Islanders began in 2005, long before the trout-sensitive status of Eagle Lake, the county or the two ministries involved could say their own plan of subdivision process started later, and refuse the application.

The entire matter could end up at the Ontario Municipal Board.

For their part, Central Frontenac Council seems intent on pushing the matter forward.

“We are willing to support your efforts wholeheartedly,” said Mayor Gutowski.

Cottage associations pressure Council on septic re-inspection.

At least three townships that are adjacent to Central Frontenac have set up limited septic re-inspection projects over the past five years, and in each case it was lake associations that pressured the townships into setting up the projects.

Taking a page out of that book, Terry Kennedy from the Kennebec Lake Association came before council this week to present a paper his association has prepared on re-inspections, which included a series of recommendations.

Although Central Frontenac Council is waiting for a staff report on re-inspections, Kennedy thought a submission by his association would be timely.

He proposed that Central Frontenac begin with a limited program, relying on property owners who volunteer for inspections, and progress over time towards more robust enforcement of environmental regulations.

Kennedy argued that the environment, particularly the “quality of lakes and rivers, is critical to the future success of the township and all its citizens. The environment is not just the key driver for the economy in the area; in Central Frontenac, the environment is the economy.”

Kennedy was accompanied by Jamie Saunders, who works with the Rideau and Mississippi Valley Conservation authorities and runs the septic re-inspection projects in Tay Valley and North Frontenac townships.

Saunders said that municipalities have taken different tacks on re-inspection, and the services provided through Rideau and Tay Valley cost about $90 per inspection.

Councilor Bob Harvey said, “I’ve picked up a lot of information about this over the past four or five years at conferences, and I think it’s a good idea. Last year our building inspector said, ‘really there isn't a lot of teeth in it’. We know the ministry will be giving more authority in the future, but for now people don't have to allow an inspector on their property. So we end up looking only at the good players, not the offenders. But it is a good idea.”

“I agree with you,” said Saunders, “there aren’t the teeth in the inspection program that the lake associations would like. In Tay Valley about 40% of the inspections we do show some problem that needs fixing, but only about 3% are failed systems that need replacing. Even so the education component can have enforcement value. By making cottage associations aware of how systems can fail, they can bring information to the townships. If information is brought to a chief building official, they are obligated to go and inspect, and there is a legal process that follows.”

Saunders also said that he believes the province is “moving towards mandatory inspections.”

Deputy Mayor Gary Smith pointed out the waterfront assessment is key to the township’s tax base.

“If the water gets polluted because of faulty septic systems the property values will fall and our ability to do anything in the township will be curtailed. We have a financial interest in this.”

Smith asked Terry Kennedy if Kennebec Lake Association has support from other associations.

Kennedy said he had the support of the Sharbot Lake, Eagle Lake, Bobs and Crow Lake, and Big Clear Lake Association, and the Long Lake Association will be considering it at their AGM this summer.

Council made a commitment to consider the matter by June 1.

Seniors’ centre gets help – Council agreed, after some debate, to grant $1,300 to the newly established senior's centre to help the centre cover property tax costs in their first year of operation.

Councilor Norm Guntensperger argued that this would set a precedent for other social service agencies to ask for support.

“This has to do with the quality of life for some seniors,” said Councilor Bob Harvey, “We should give them support for the first year.”

“I agree,” said Councilor Jeff Matson. “It's the first year that makes or breaks you.”

The grant was approved in a 5-4 vote.

Small Business Week and Business Breakfast – Council agreed to endorse Small Business Week, and the mayor invited members of council to attend a Business over Breakfast meeting on May 21 at Maples Restaurant to hear from Anne Prichard of the Frontenac Community futures Development Corporation on the subject of the new Eastern Ontario Development Fund granting program for businesses.

Snyder returns – Council welcomed Councilor Bill Snyder back to the table. It was Snyder's first meeting after several months off for an operation and recovery. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 14, 2009 Mayors squeezed by councilors as governance debate comes to a headby Jeff Green

At a meeting that was attended by 22 of 32 members of councils from the four lower-tier Frontenac townships (Frontenac Islands, South, Central and North Frontenac) the four mayors who represent each council on the upper-tier county council found themselves in a distinct minority.

While the mayors all expressed at least some sympathy for the recommendation of a report on county governance that called for a direct public election of three members to the county council as part of the next municipal election, the 18 other council members in the room uniformly rejected that option.

Instead they favoured expanding the county council by allowing each lower tier to appoint one other member to join the four mayors, and were generally open to giving some extra weight, possibly a third representative, to South Frontenac in recognition of its population, which is more than double that of the second most populous township, Central Frontenac.

County Warden Janet Gutowski repeatedly resisted an attempt, first proposed by Central Frontenac Councilor Bob Harvey, to hold a straw vote among the representatives in attendance on the question of direct election of county councillors.

“Let's get that out of the way and move on to something that we can all agree on,” said Harvey.

“I don't want you to vote on something today, before considering it fully, and then find you have lost an opportunity,” she said, “I think instead of voting we should discuss this further”.

Repeated requests for a vote came from councillors from different townships, leading Gutowski to say, “I can’t allow a straw vote unless my fellow county council members agree, but I think it is premature”.

South Frontenac Mayor Davison and Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Van den Hoek agreed with Gutowski.

“I don't need a vote to know what people in this room are thinking. But we have one more public meeting on this, and we will make a decision when county council meets on May 20,” said Jim Vanden Hoek. “The townships will have a chance to ratify our decision or not”.

South Frontenac Chief Administrative Officer Gord Burns, who will be retiring in a couple of months, then said “I hate to disagree with my mayor, and the warden, but with all these people here it would be a mistake to miss the opportunity to give them their say”.

Warden Gutowski then agreed to a vote on the question of whether the councilors in the room would like to see a second representative on county council from each township. They all agreed.

They also agreed that South Frontenac should have some extra weight on the county, although how that can be done was deferred until it can be discussed by South Frontenac township council.

In order for the makeup of county council to change, the change must be approved by county council itself, as well as a majority of the lower-tier townships, representing a majority of the county population. This means South Frontenac and two of the three other townships would have to ratify any change that is approved by county council.

Councilor David Hahn, from South Frontenac, said, “I think it is time for the mayors to let go of the direct election idea, and congratulate themselves for what they have accomplished. We have complete agreement on a second member from each township. They should declare victory”.

County Council will consider governance at their meeting on May 20. What happens after that depends on what they decide. If they agree to a new makeup of county council, it will go to the townships for ratification. If they don't, the matter will likely be put to bed for another four years. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 21, 2009 South Frontenac Council – May 19/09  

South Frontenac weighs in on county governance By Jeff Green

As South Frontenac Council considered the question of Frontenac County governance at their meeting on Tuesday night, May 19, not only was Mayor Davison seeking direction, Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek was also an interested observer.

Any county governance proposal would need a so-called triple majority in order to be approved: the majority of current membership on county council, the majority of townships within the county, and the representatives of the majority of the people who live in the county.

With 58% of the county’s population living within its borders, South Frontenac Council would effectively have a veto over any proposal that is approved by county council.

South Frontenac CAO Gord Burns, in recommending a governance model to council, said, “I feel a bit awkward doing so because this is a political issue, but this is really based on what I heard at the meeting last Tuesday from members of all the councils in the county, and it is something that I believe would receive support from the other townships.”

Burns recommended a nine-member council consisting of the mayor and a second representative from each of the four member townships, and an extra member from South Frontenac in recognition of its share of the population. Each township would decide how to choose its own extra members on county council.

“Again I feel awkward because I am not a politician”, Burns said, “and by all means this is only a starting point.”

Councilor Ron Vandewal said he liked the idea of adding four new members, but said, “I don't agree with the third rep from South Frontenac. I think we should get 40% of the vote, and we can do that through a weighted voting system, where the South Frontenac members get two votes each.”

Councilors Alan MacPhail and David Hahn both said they could support either a third member from South Frontenac or a weighted voting system, but they both leaned towards the third representative.

“The important thing is the added number of people would create some diversity at the table, greater depth to the council, and a stronger connection with the member townships,” said MacPhail.

“I'm kind of inclined towards the third person from South Frontenac because weighted voting would create two classes of membership on the council,” said Hahn.

Mayor Davison said he was not sure where the debate at the county table would go (the matter is on the county agenda at their meeting this week) but “I will be looking for South Frontenac to have 40% of the vote under any new arrangement.”

In order to give Davison direction, council approved the CAO's recommendations, calling for a nine-member Council with three members from South Frontenac.

“We will keep you up to speed on where the debate goes this week,” Davison told council.

Frontenac County Council is currently a four-member council, made up of the mayors of its four constituent townships (South, Central and North Frontenac and Frontenac Islands).

Council Notes by Wilma Kenny

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth reviewed some of the issues facing waste collection and disposal, in the light of Council's recent agreement to eliminate area rating effective January 1, 2010. The current system of issuing 100 bag tags to each dwelling is in effect until August 31, 2009. In order to save the estimated $12,000 expense of a separate township-wide mailing, any tags to cover the period of Sept-Dec '09 would need to go out with the final tax bill on June 1.  Accordingly,

Segsworth brought a recommendation to council from the Sustainability Committee that: "A user pay system for garbage collection be implemented by January 2010, (and that) as an interim measure, 30 tags will be available for pick-up at the Keeley Road office for each property that requires additional tags for the period Sept-Dec 2009."

After much discussion of the unresolved issues, including user pay and harmonizing waste disposal, council defeated the resolution recommended by the Sustainability Committee. However, just before the meeting ended, council passed a motion to provide all township properties that have been receiving bag tags with a further 30 tags to cover until the end of the year, to be included in the June tax mail-out.

There were no comments from the public concerning a proposed Zoning by-law

amendment application in the village of Harrowsmith that would permit a 2.3acre parcel of land on Road 38 just north of the village to be rezoned Special Urban Commercial. This would permit uses such as bakery, meat shop, etc. The resolution passed.

The Cataraqui Source Protection Committee will be hosting a public open house at the Township Hall, Sydenham, on Thursday May 21, 6:30-8:30pm, to share the initial findings of their study, and "seek local knowledge that may assist the source protection efforts for the water supply."

Councilor Robinson reported that the Harrowsmith S&A Club was findingthe cost of insurance for Canada Day celebrations to be prohibitive. CAOBurns said that although the township insurance could not cover a privateassociation such as the S&A Club, the issue could be resolved by having the Canada Day activities come under the umbrella of the Portland Recreation Committee, which, as a committee of council, is eligible for insurancecoverage under the township’s policy. The S&A would still provide their services as volunteers organizing the event. Burns said the S&A Club had agreed to this arrangement.