Backyard chickens rejected in South Frontenac

Lindsay Mills, Planning Coordinator, presented a list of issues that could be considered should council wish to develop a by-law permitting rural residents living on two-acre lots to raise a small number of chickens (10). Presently, although 100 chickens would be permitted on a three-acre hobby farm, none are allowed on a two-acre rural residential lot.

Mills’ report included a definition of hens (domesticated female chickens), and dealt, among other things, with disposal of deceased hens, and storage and disposal of manure. It cautioned that “no hen shall become a public nuisance through its persistent clucking,” and stated that “no hen shall be permitted to be at large in the community.” After some discussion, Council arrived at a general agreement that there was not sufficient community interest to warrant passing such a by-law.

Councilor Bill Robinson called the bylaw “ridiculous!” and Councilor Larry York called it “a waste of time!”

Objection to racing

Maureen Birdsell came as a delegate to protest a proposed zone change that would permit vehicle racing on the Bill Day property on Harrowsmith Road. She cited noise, dust, garbage and a past history of disruptive behaviour related to grass drags on the property.

Waste site report

On behalf of AECOM Consulting, engineer Guy LaPorte gave his annual review of the township’s waste sites. Groundwater, surface water and methane emissions are all tested each year. LaPorte said there are concerns at the Loughborough waste site with groundwater, and at the Portland site with surface water. Both are being closely monitored. Burridge and Massassauga sites in Bedford are both slated for closure this year.

Guy LaPorte and Public Works Manager Segsworth agreed that the only way to get an accurate measurement of the quantities of waste going into the landfills is to have regular access to weigh scales. This would make it possible to realistically predict the lifespan of township landfills.

Strategic planning day planned

Deputy Mayor Mark Tinlin, who chaired the meeting in the absence of Mayor Davison, suggested that now the budget was out of the way it was time to set a day aside for strategic planning. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs will provide two facilitators for the process. It was generally agreed that this discussion would include council and staff, but not community members, in order to have a more efficient-sized working group.

Taxes up in North Frontenac – net increase of 7.2% in levy to ratepayers

After several months of deliberations, North Frontenac Council finally completed their 2011 budget late last week.

In the end, an additional $477,000 over what was collected in 2010 will be required from North Frontenac ratepayers - an increase of 7.22%.

About half of that increase can be attributed to cuts in transfer payments and increases generated by other levels of government.

The township lost $117,000 in provincial grants, and education taxes will cost $70,000 more for North Frontenac taxpayers in 2011. A $58,000 grant from Frontenac County was also cut, but that was offset by a decrease of $50,000 in county taxes.

In the end, a little more than half of the total increase, about $280,000, will be spent on local services.

Among highlights of this year's budget is a $169,000 allocation to a fire reserve fund for a new vehicle. As well $195,000 is going to a fund for capital projects, and $240,000 is going for the purchase of one new tandem truck and the replacement of a cab and chassis on an older truck. Among smaller items are $30,000 for a reserve fund for community halls, and $10,000 for street lights. The township is pulling back on road upgrades, but will continue the pavement maintenance program on the 506/509 by re-paving several kilometres this year

The levy increase will hit waterfront ratepayers harder than inland residents, since property assessment increases on waterfront properties continue to shift the tax burden in that direction.

The total value of property assessment in the township is up by $56 million this year, the bulk of which come from waterfront property re-assessment. As a result, even though the levy to ratepayers is up by $477,000, the tax rate required to raise that money is down by over 2%.

County Planning proposal - North Frontenac Council heard from Joe Gallivan, the Manager for Sustainability Planning for Frontenac County, about a proposal that his office provide planning services for North Frontenac Township. The township currently uses Tunnock Consulting for their planning needs, and Gallivan said there might be benefits and costs savings that could be passed on to developers within the township if a switch were made.

Gallivan made the trip to the meeting at the Barrie Hall in Cloyne after reading a report to council that was prepared by Brenda Defosse. The report described an earlier attempt by the county to enter into local planning in 2007-2008: “from a township staff perspective, this activity was extremely time-consuming, frustrating and futile.”

A pro and con document was prepared by township staff and committee of adjustment members, based on the current proposal by the county. It includes five pros but many more cons.

Presently the township pays an annual retainer of $1500 to Tunnock Consulting for planning services, which gives “unlimited telephone/e-mail advice to the Commitee of Adjustment members and staff,” said Defosse's report. All other fees are recovered through fees charged to applicants for various planning approvals.

Gallivan said he could not answer to the pros and cons document because he had just seen it, but said, “since the county has compiled all the GIS data, and is familiar with the township and its needs, the savings would be significant for developers if we provided this service. We have the capacity in our office to do this.”

“How can you fit this in your schedule,” asked Councilor Wayne Good. “Do you have free time?”

“No,” said Gallivan, “but a lot of the work I do is project management, which is more flexible in terms of time, whereas planning matters are immediate. We can do both.”

“I just wonder, physically, how this will work,” said Mayor Bud Clayton, “and you can understand our concern if this leads to new staffing at the county, because we end up paying our share as a member township.”

Gallivan proposed that he prepare a written response to the pros and cons document and meet with township staff, leading up to a return visit in June when he will make a full presentation.

Council agreed.

“I will already be here in June to talk about the population project study that was done by the county and some particular opportunities and implications it holds for North Frontenac,” he said.

Ompah library branch – The township has received a letter from Paige Cousineau, a rural representative to the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) Board, who has been advocating for the Ompah branch, which is slated to close on May 29. In her letter she suggests that the township request that the board chair attend the next council meeting to explain why the branch is closing.

“It seems reasonable to me,” said Councilor John Inglis.

“Reasonable, but a waste of time,” said Councilor Wayne Good. “They made up their mind about this a long time ago.”

“I think they are breaking the spirit of the library amalgamation agreement by closing this branch. They may be right in legal terms but I think they should have to consult with us first,” Inglis said.

Pine Meadow – Mayor Clayton informed council that Pine Meadow Nursing Home will receive $20,000 towards its capital campaign as part of the proceeds from a gala fundraiser in Toronto that raised $280,000 for 12 different nursing homes. The Clar-Mill Community Volunteers have also raised $800, and the Conservationists of Frontenac Addington (COFA), $300 for the home.

A large private sector donation to the cause is also a possibility, Clayton said, although it is still in the works and he could not divulge any details.

“All of this support Pine Meadow is receiving from different sources puts Frontenac County to shame for refusing once again to help,” he said.

For the fifth year in a row, a request for $25,000 per year for 10 years was rejected by Frontenac County during their budget deliberations.

Council looking at cutting fees for new school

Mayor Janet Gutowski has proposed that Central Frontenac Council consider waiving at least a portion of building fees for the new comprehensive school in Sharbot Lake.

“This is a one-time investment that the school board is making in our municipality. It will never happen again on this scale, and this is the first purpose built JK-12 school that they have built. I think we should look at waiving or diminishing the fees as a financial contribution to support such things as a theatre at the school,” she said to council at their meeting on Tuesday night, May 10.

Councilor Norm Guntensperger liked the proposal but wanted to fine tune it.

“I think we should be more concrete. If we can come to some consensus about what we are looking for, I’m all for it. I don’t just want to save money for the school board, I think we need to see something extra coming from this kind of investment,” he said.

Councilor Frances Smith proposed that the matter be referred to staff to investigate the waiving of building and planning fees.

There is some pretty big money involved. The permit fee on the building is 1% of the total construction value, which translates into $130,000.

Councilor Bill Snyder opposed the idea.

“Right now we are tight for money and now we are giving it away. And don’t forget our building inspector will have to do a lot of work on this, and if we don’t charge the fees, we will be paying his salary for it. That’s not right,” he said

The matter was referred to staff for comment.

Farmers’ market proposed – Pat Furlong, the new chair of the Hands On Harvest Group, which puts out a pamphlet listing local growers, came to the township asking if her group could set up a farmers’ market at the parking lot on the north end of the Sharbot Lake beach on Saturday mornings starting in June.

“The market would be a good drawing card and a boost to the local economy. The Perth market brings in tourists each week, and all the downtown businesses benefit. We could do the same here,” Pat Furlong said.

The market would take place on Friday afternoons or Saturday mornings.

Council raised a number of questions about the location, but were generally supportive of the idea.

“I don’t know if there is enough parking at that location, especially if you are using the parking lot,” said Councilor Guntensperger, “you may want to find another location.”

“I think the beach would be a good location for us to start because it is such a beautiful spot. We could move later on. We don’t know if crowding is going to be an issue,” Furlong replied.

Council accepted the presentation and asked for a staff report for the next meeting.

Council likes hockey rinks – Dave Willis, from the Oso Recreation Committee, came to inform council about a project the committee is working on. They have received a $10,000 donation from a local club and Willis wanted council to know that the committee has the opportunity of purchasing modern hockey boards from Ottawa at a low price of $4,000, leaving $6,000 to help pay for a concrete pad near the high school and the baseball field on Road 38.

“It could be used for ice hockey in the winter and ball hockey or basketball in the summer,” he said. “There is a well at the site, and the only issue there is drainage, but with the new school requiring a drainage plan we could work with the school board on it. With all the students coming to that school a new hockey rink would be a great addition,” he said.

Council received Dave Willis’ presentation and encouraged him to continue working on the project.

But tether ball and horseshoes, not so much – A proposal by Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS) to set up a tether ball and horseshoe pit at the Sharbot Lake Beach to complement the youth centre they will be holding at the beach twice a week this summer, was discussed at council.

“The youth centre would plan to hold the tether ball and horseshoe equipment and offer this for use by the general public at a nominal fee,” wrote NFCS Executive Director Don Amos in a letter to council.

Liability, liability, liability, was council’s reaction.

“I don’t like the rental idea. I don’t see how that can work,” said Frances Smith.

“It’s a nice idea, but metal spikes sticking out of the ground; horseshoes flying at the beach - I don’t know about that,” said Mayor Gutowski.

“Tether balls, when they get used, as they do, need to be replaced pretty quickly. And people get knocked down,” said Norm Guntensperger.

“I think it’s a nightmare waiting to happen,” said Frances Smith.

Council rejected the proposal.

Bridgen’s Island – two more weeks

Council agreed to defer consideration of an official amendment for the Bridgen’s Island subdivision on Eagle Lake to canvas a minor amendment to the plan with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs. The amendment would combine an existing building lot with two restricted lots, all of which are owned by the same person.

Mayor Gutowski opposed the deferral. “I think the ministry has gone as far as they are willing to go on this subdivision,” she said.

Gravel contract – Council accepted a bid of $206,900 from Crains’ Construction for the supply of gravel, to be used mainly on Elm Tree, Fish Creek, Forty Foot, Bull Lake and Willis Armstrong roads.

The public works manager, Mike Richardson, also informed council that road grading has been slowed down this spring by wet weather, and the township has had a high number of road washouts to deal with.

Septic reinspection – Council agreed to spend $6,000 on a voluntary septic reinspection program this summer, to be run by the Mississippi-Rideau Septic system office. Mississippi-Rideau has also made an offer to do all the septic inspections for new installations at a lower price than the township is paying to the Kingston Frontenac Public Health Unit for the same service. The entire septic inspection issue will come back to council later this year.

Building permits up – Chief Building Inspector Jeremy Neven reported that as of the end of April, 42 permits have been issued in 2011 for a construction value of $2.16 million, up from 39 permits for a value of $1.24 million in 2010. In the month of April alone, 23 permits were issued for $1.56 million in construction value.

Budget finalised

Frontenac County Council staggered to the finish line and approved the 2011 budget at their regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, April 20.

By taking advantage of some uploaded social service costs, the county will decrease the amount it collects from ratepayers by 4.2% in 2011, creating what County Chief Administrator Liz Savill called “tax room” in the budgets of the member townships of the county (see “Taxes up for Central, South Frontenac residents”).

The main budget issue item that was left for council’s consideration on April 20 was the creation of a new clerical staff position at the county office.

The budget originally included two positions, a communications co-ordinator and a clerk for the finance office, but council had made it clear at the previous meeting they were only willing to consider one new position.

Liz Savill said that the workload in her office and in the finance office has increased to the point where existing staff are scrambling to get work done, causing inefficiency. With only one position on the table, Savill said that the position would be shared between finance and communications.

The cost of the position is $48,000 per year, and council decided to leave it in the budget.

North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton brought up the request from Pine Meadow Nursing Home for $25,000 a year for 10 years towards its capital redevelopment program. This item has been brought to county council each year for several years and has been turned down each time, as it was again this time.

Clayton wondered why council was willing to give $54,000 each year to the Kingston General Hospital building fund, but not Pine Meadow. “They are both health care dollars,” he said, “and they both support people from our county. Why one and not the other?”

Council defeated a motion to grant the $25,000.

“I think we need some more time to get information about this,” said Warden Gary Davison. “We are not going forward at this time, but we are not closing the door.”

At the request of Warden Davison, Council decided to transfer $510,000 in gas tax rebate reserves to the townships, a move that did not affect county taxation because the money came from the federal government.

Before the budget vote was taken, Councilor David Jones from Frontenac Islands asked to address council.

“I think it is appropriate that I speak for the good people of the islands. I don’t see anything substantive coming out of these programs. I recognise this is a democratic process, but I see nothing coming from this. I’m going to have to sell this to my constituents. There are programs that have a pronounced bias towards the mainland townships. It is unfortunate that Councilor Doyle cannot be here today because he would have reiterated the same,” Jones said.

The budget passed in a 6-2 vote, with Councilors Jones and Clayton casting the dissenting votes.

County scuttles plans to move northern ambulance base back to Ardoch Road

A proposal that would have seen the Frontenac County Paramedic Service build a stand-alone ambulance base in the vicinity of Highway 509 and Ardoch Road was defeated at county council last week. The proposal would have reversed a directive from the county from last year to build a base at Ompah in conjunction with a new North Frontenac Fire Station.

But the issues that have stopped the Ompah construction from proceeding have not been resolved, leaving the entire project in limbo.

Meanwhile a 12-hour a day ambulance remains parked outside at the Lavant Road garage each day, with the car running all winter in order to keep medicines from freezing.

This is the latest twist in a matter that county council first looked at two years ago when a consultant’s report recommended building a new base at Road 509 and Ardoch Road.

That proposal was strenuously opposed by then North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire. In response, Paul Charbonneau, the Emergency Services manager for Frontenac County, brought forward an alternate proposal for a combined ambulance base and fire hall in Ompah. This proposal was endorsed by county council in February of 2010.

Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski opposed the Ompah plan at the time. She had two concerns: firstly, she argued that the decision was essentially a political one that was not supported by information about its impact on response times, and secondly because the Ompah plan also included replacing the existing Parham base with a new one in Sharbot Lake to serve Highway 7.

As has been documented over the last year in the News, the Ompah plan has run into trouble because the county and North Frontenac Township have not been able to agree on a cost-sharing plan for the project.

When North Frontenac brought the matter to the county table on March 16, hoping only to address the cost sharing problem and not the viability of the entire project, county council halted the project pending a staff report, to be prepared for the April meeting,

That report made use of some new mapping of recent call volumes by the County GIS department and a population projection study that has just been completed.

At the conclusion of the report, Paul Charbonneau wrote: “The location analysis … indicate[a] an affirmative view for a new land ambulance station in the vicinity of Ardoch Road and Road 509. Both drive time/distance mapping and total call volume capture are best achieved from this location. A land ambulance station location in the vicinity of Ardoch Road and Road 509 would maximize ambulance coverage within the more densely populated area of the eastern portion of the Township of North Frontenac and the north portion of the Township of Central Frontenac.”

North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton bristled at the idea of moving the base away from Ompah.

“I came here today to try and put the financial model for the Ompah project into line so we can go forward. I can talk very little more about eliminating the project altogether other than to say the people in that district will be terribly disappointed if they don’t get the ambulance base they have been promised,” he said.

John Purdon, from Central Frontenac, said, “I think there are a lot of questions here that we can’t identify today.

Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski did not see any reason to wait.

“I am comfortable with making a decision today,” she said. “We have a duty to today and we have a duty to tomorrow. The correct move is for us to move forward. It is not going to be to the detriment of the citizens of the community in the north to have the service move to the 509/Ardoch Road location. I would like to put a motion on the floor to direct staff to look at options for an ambulance base on Ardoch road.”

That motion was defeated, in a 4-4 tied vote.

County Councilors Inglis, Clayton, Purdon, and Jones voted against it, and County Councilors Gutowski, McDougall and Warden Davison (who carries two votes as Mayor of South Frontenac) voted in favour. Dennis Doyle from the Frontenac Islands was not at the meeting.

When contacted afterwards, Paul Charbonneau said that he would now “re-engage with North Frontenac County staff towards building a joint base in Ompah. The County has $300,000 budgeted for the project.”

Garrison Shores condominium agreement accepted – A number of people who live on the shores of Garrison Lake near Arden stood up and cheered when council approved a land-based condominium agreement for the properties that some of them have owned for over 20 years. They own property in a development called Garrison Shores that was not divided according to planning standards when they bought their lots up to 30 years ago. The condominium agreement has been in the works ever since municipal amalgamation in 1998 and has cost the Garrison Shores property owners hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Taxes going up

By Jeff Green

Central Frontenac Council finalised the 2011 budget at their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 26, and will formally adopt it on May 9.

The budget includes an increase of just under 10% in the amount of money Central Frontenac ratepayers will pay for local services. But since municipal tax bills also include payments for Education and County taxes, which are down this year, the total increase will be in the order of 5%.

Individual property owners in the township will pay increases of more or less than 5% depending on how their property has been assessed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). In general, waterfront ratepayers will see their taxes go up by substantially more than the 5%, and off water ratepayers will see increases of 5% or less.

At the last minute, township staff made some extra cuts to the budget to minimise the tax increase. The largest of these was a $59,000 cut in the public works equipment budget.

Bridgen’s Island revisited

By Julie Druker

Frontenac County Planner, Joe Gallivan, made a presentation to Central Frontenac Council on April 26, encouraging members to approve a township-initiated Official Plan amendment to allow for separate lot ownership on a portion of Bridgen’s Island, which is located on Eagle Lake,

The property has been owned by a cooperative, Bridgen’s Island Associates Limited (BIAL) for the last three decades. The amendment will allow for 14 lots to be created, and includes restrictions to prohibit any new construction on four of the lots, which are currently vacant. It also restricts further development of the 10 existing cottages on the island. The purpose of the amendment is to allow the cooperative to be converted from a single parcel to 14 separate properties, as well as to allow for the creation of a common beach waterfront area. Gallivan recommended that council approve the amendment following a public meeting planned for Tuesday May 10. “In my opinion this amendment is in keeping with the township’s official plan, is consistent with the official policy statement and will ensure that the Eagle Lake habitat will be protected,” Gallivan said.

Fireworks bylaw – Deputy Fire Chief Art Cowdy presented the first draft of a revised fireworks bylaw. Once councilors have read the new bylaw, it will be discussed.

South Frontenac budget down to the short strokes.

The first incarnation of the 2011 South Frontenac budget called for an increase of over 25% that local ratepayers were going to have to come up with.

However, a decrease of $1.4 million in the roads construction budget, among a number of other cuts, brought the increase to under 5%, but staff and council were concerned that township reserves were getting to dangerously low levels.

When council learned that the amount of taxes to be collected for Frontenac County was going down, they decided to replenish some of the reserve funds. This brought the township increase up to 6.7%, but with the county decrease, the total increase was dropped to 3.65%.

Before finalising the budget, township, Chief Administrator Wayne Orr brought a final budget report to a Committee of the Whole meeting of council this week. In it, Orr pointed to a $600,000 annual payment that the City of Kingston pays to South Frontenac according to an agreement that was part of municipal amalgamation in 1998. That agreement ends in two years, and Orr said it might not be renewed. He proposed putting some money into a reserve fund to help cushion the blow when that revenue stops flowing.

Orr put three options before council. One would leave the total increase at 3.65%; another would raise it to 5% and another would raise it to 5.8%.

Council will decide this week where the rate should end up and the budget will be adopted on May 3.

South Frontenac squeaks budget through

Surprisingly, four members of South Frontenac Council voted against passage of the 2011 budget, but the over $21 million levy to ratepayers for township, county and education taxes was nevertheless approved in a 5-4 vote.

The overall levy increase for 2011 will be 3%. A flat rate in education taxes and 4% decrease in county taxes will offset an increase in taxes for South Frontenac taxes of about 5.6%.

Councilor Ron Vandewal objected to putting $50,000 in the budget for a new Public Works position that has not yet been approved. The money will sit in the capital reserve fund, and Vandewal argued it should be left in ratepayers’ pockets for another year.

Councilors Larry York, Bill Robinson, and Allan McPhail also opposed the budget.

The budget includes a number of road construction and waste management-related projects, although $1.4 million in road projects, which were slated to be done in accordance with a five-year roads plan, were cut from the budget in order to minimise the tax increase.

By-law Officer Suspects Chickens might be Pigs

Dianne Dowling, president of local 613 of the National Farmers Union, made a brief presentation to council, offering to consult with the township on reviewing their livestock by-law. This was a result of the township’s order that Nathan Smith get rid of the livestock he is keeping on an under-sized lot. Mr. Smith and his wife admit they are keeping 14 hens, one rooster and two ducks on a 2.5 acre lot, and came to council to obtain a few weeks’ extension so they could find alternate homes for their birds. Mayor Davison noted that the by-law officer had reported hearing what she suspected were the sounds of “small pigs” inside the shed on the Smiths’ property, and had submitted pictures of a manure heap that she thought was too large to have been produced by chickens. Davison said the matter would come up for discussion at the Committee of the Whole. When questioned later, Mr. Smith asserted that they did not have pigs. He said he and his wife had not been home when the by-law officer visited, and the chicken shed had been locked.

Private Lane Upgrading Program Popular

Public Works Manager Segsworth reported that his office is already getting queries about the private lane upgrading assistance program for 2011. The purpose of the program is to improve access for emergency vehicles, and is not meant to include standard maintenance. Accordingly, Segsworth asked, and was granted, Council’s permission to include itemized invoicing to application requirements. Full program criteria will be posted on the township website by next week: applications will be accepted until June 17.

Pleasant Valley Municipal Drain Clogged

Chief Building Officer Revill reported that over the winter, he had been able to perform an inspection of this drain, and found that in places, it was overgrown with reed canary grass, and filled with silt, brush and fallen trees. Council agreed with his recommendation that a contractor be hired by the tender process on a time and materials basis to carry out selective cleaning of the drain under Revill’s supervision and within the $10,000 budgeted allocation.

Township Lacks Official, Registered Coat of Arms!

Council passed a motion directing the mayor to “submit a formal letter to the Heraldic Authority of Canada petitioning for a grant of arms for South Frontenac Township.” The Corporate Services Committee is to oversee the development of the arms subject to council’s final approval. Cost will be $435 in 2011 for research and design, and an estimated $2,000 next year for the final artwork. The lack of an official, registered coat of arms had been brought to the township’s attention by Deputy Mayor Tinlin. Tinlin explained that the design presently used on township documents was merely a logo, as were the “items quilted by the women” presently hanging in the hall, representing each of the four districts which made up the amalgamated township.

A Master Plan For Loughborough Memorial Park

Councilor John McDougall said he had no wish to delay installation of the football field lights, but expressed concern that it is unclear how much of the park’s master plan has been accepted by council, and how much of it is piecemeal. He made a motion that capital budget items pertaining to the Loughborough Memorial Park’s master plan concerning development should be held in reserve until there has been consultation with the recreation committee, the Limestone District School Board and the community. McDougall estimated this could be accomplished in less than two months. The motion passed, with Stowe, Vandewal and Davison opposed.

Sydenham Water

The Sydenham water plant was switched over to the new cloramination treatment system on May 27: an information open house is scheduled for Thursday May 5: 5:30-7:30,at the township hall, Sydenham.

This Is Emergency Preparedness Week

An excellent booklet describing emergency planning, and listing items for basic emergency kits (even a few recipes) can be ordered from the website: www.GetPrepared.ca or by calling 1-800-622-6232.

It has been a tradition at the News at the start of a municipal election year to ask the mayors and reeve of the four townships that we cover regularly in our pages what their intentions are.

They may be gluttons for punishment, but none were willing to close the door on seeking another four years of low pay and high anxiety. A couple are even planning their campaigns already.

Addington Highlands Reeve Henry Hogg said, “Don’t tell my wife, but I’m still thinking about running again. It all depends on how a few initiatives go, how far they get towards resolution.” Hogg mentioned that the Family Health Team in Northbrook is his highest priority for the final year of this current council, as well as fulfilling the role of Lennox and Addington County Warden. Henry Hogg was first elected 25 years ago as a councillor. He has served as reeve on five occasions over the years, for a total of 16 years.

In Frontenac County, North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire said he “won’t be making any formal announcement one way before April or May.” He said he wants to go through the budget process first, and would like to see the township broadband project extended and an ambulance be approved for North Frontenac over the next few months before deciding. At the end of this year, Maguire will have served as mayor for seven years.

Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski intends to run for mayor again. “”I feel there are more things to be done,” she said, “and I still have a lot of enthusiasm for the job. It is still early days but at this point I certainly intend to run.” Gutowski has served on Central Frontenac Council for seven years, the last four as mayor.

South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison also intends to seek re-election. “I’d like to give it four more years, if that’s what the electors want, and then call it a day. That would be enough for me,” he said. In particular, Davison said he plans to continue working towards full amalgamation of budgeting and services in South Frontenac, which was a major part of his campaign four years ago. “Our first amalgamated budget will be completed this year, and we are working on standardising and improving waste management services. I’d be happy to help move things forward.”

The municipal election campaign will not swing into high gear until the early fall, and the election will take place on November 8, but it will be a sort of hidden agenda item at council meetings throughout 2010. 

CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY 2000-2009: A summary of the last decade’s construction activity, which includes single and seasonal family dwellings, agricultural and commercial buildings, renovations, garages, woodstoves, decks, pools, fences and demolitions showed that 2009 wasn’t as much of a slump as had been feared. Overall construction value, at $24.5 million, was slightly above the 10-year average and well above 2006's $18.8 million. The actual number of new dwellings, however, was the lowest in the decade, and the last half of the decade has seen fewer new seasonal residences than were constructed in the first half.

During the last five years 629 new woodstoves have been installed: possibly a comment on the rising price of fuel?

PROCESS FOR CHANGING COUNCIL COMPOSITION: Councilor David Hahn brought a motion outlining the process by which council could change its composition. This was in response to a motion brought forward and later withdrawn last month by Councilor John Fillion. It would have limited Bedford district to one representative on council. Fillion was not present at the Jan 12 meeting. After some discussion and one modification, Council passed a resolution stating that, in order to change the composition of council, three criteria would have to be met: 1) five votes would have to support the change; 2) one representative from each district would also have to support it, and 3) there would have to be widespread public consultation with the voters, including one public meeting, before the proposal could come to council for decision.

LAST-MINUTE BID FOR FUNDING FOR THE POINT: FedDev Ontario has launched an intake for applications under the Community Adjustment Fund in Southern Ontario, with the deadline of 3 pm next Monday Jan. 18. Council agreed "to direct staff to proceed with preparing an application for the development of The Point in Sydenham." There was some concern because the development plan was still in early stages, and has not been passed through the recreation committees. However, both Mayor Gary Davison and CAO Wayne Orr assured council that should the grant be awarded to the township, the project could be developed, fine-tuned, and if necessary scaled back, as long as all work was completed by the end of March 2011. Both cautioned that there was a very slim chance that South Frontenac’s application would be accepted, as there is expected to be a lot of competition for the money. All members of council agreed that they didn’t want to pass up an opportunity, however slim, of a grant that would pay 90% of project costs. The application will be for over $2 million, of which the township would have to pay only $212,000. This would come from reserve funds.

ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENTS: Several non-contentious zoning by-law applications passed through public meeting and approval stages with minimum comment. 

OMB hearing delay rejected

An Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing is scheduled for February 2 in Sharbot Lake to consider Central Frontenac Township’s approvals for a five-unit seniors’ home on Clement Road in the township’s Oso ward.

At their council meeting on January 12, Council received a request from Bob Clark of Clark Consulting, who represents Roy Sepa, the resident on Clement Road who launched the OMB appeal of the township’s planning decisions. Mr. Sepa has argued that the Clement Road location for the housing unit is inappropriate for a number of reasons and that the township’s planning and approvals process has been flawed.

In his letter to the township and the township’s lawyer, Mr. Clark made a request that the hearing be rescheduled “to allow residents, who have filed appeals on the various matters being considered at this hearing, an opportunity to properly prepare for the hearing.”

Tony Fleming, the township’s lawyer, is also representing the agency that is planning to build the units, North Frontenac Not-For-Profit Housing, at the OMB hearing. He prepared a draft response to Mr. Clark’s request to the township, which says that the township does not consent to the adjournment. The response cites that the hearing was announced in early December, and Mr. Sepa would have known it was coming before that. It also says that the project is making use of time-sensitive government grants that would be jeopardised by any further delay.

Council voted to adopt the draft letter and opposed the request for delay.

INSURANCE INCREASES: Debra Murphy appeared before council on behalf of Frank Cowan Insurance Co., which has insured the township for the past nine years.

Murphy explained that recent court decisions and the fact that the company has paid out more to Central Frontenac over the last few years than they received in premiums have led the company to seek an increase in excess of 20% over the $125,000 that the township paid in 2008.

The township has made claims for two trucks, one for over $175,000, “and most significantly, there is an environmental loss over the Godfrey salt shed that is by no means settled” Murphy said.

In order to mitigate the increase, Murphy recommended that the township set the deductible for all categories of potential loss at $10,000. In most cases, the deductible has been in the $2,500 range, and Murphy said that based on the last nine years of claims, the township would have been better off financially with a higher deductible and lower premiums. With the uniform $10,000 deductible, the premium for 2010 is just under $140,000.

Councilor Norman Guntensperger, supported by Councilor John Purdon, wondered how the township could give the contract to Cowan Insurance without putting it out to tender. “Any other contract of this size would go to tender. In fact, I’m not sure we can even do this under our procurement bylaw,” Guntensperger said.

“I suggest we accept Cowan this year, and instruct staff to put this out to tender every four years, starting next year so it coincides with the new council,” said Councilor Frances Smith. “There are only two companies that offer this kind of insurance.”

Council voted 7-1 (Councilor Guntensperger was opposed and Councilor Gary Smith was absent) to accept the contract and instruct staff to put the insurance contract out to tender before the end of 2010.

ISLAND SEPTICS – Council voted to endorse an application to the Community Futures Development Corporation by the Frontenac Stewardship Council for a $5,500 grant to develop a business case for an existing or a new company to begin offering septic pumping services to island properties in the region.

ONE MORE GRANT APPLICATION – The township is applying for a $500,000 matching grant for transportation improvements. If successful, a portion of the money will go to the village of Arden, a portion to the village of Sharbot, and a portion in the Piccadilly area. Sidewalks are a major concern that will be addressed if the application is successful. “There is $27 million in this program, and it is for all of southern Ontario, so we may not have that much of a chance,” said Chief Administrative Officer John Duchene.

MOUNTAIN GROVE RECREATION – A meeting will be held next Monday, January 18 at 4:30 pm in the Olden Fire hall to discuss a proposal for a new recreation facility on the adjacent property. The Olden Recreation Committee and other community members are hoping to build a new baseball field and add more facilities as well at the site, which is handy to the public school and residences in Mountain Grove.

“We will be mostly discussing the process by which we will decide what the project will look like,” said Public Works Manager Mike Richardson.

“What about the cost of this? It will be a big project,” said Councilor Bill Snyder.

“My understanding is that it will be community-driven and will include public fundraising,” said Mayor Janet Gutowski. “We are just at the beginning. Later on we will look at where the money is going to come from.”

HEALTH UNIT AND SEPTIC PERMITS – On behalf of building departments in Frontenac and L&A counties, council decided to support a letter from Frontenac Islands Township that asks the Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Public Health Unit to delay plans to pull out of doing inspections for septic permits.

John Duchene said he is scheduled to attend a meeting at the health unit later this week on this subject.

Mayor Gutowski, who represents Frontenac County on the board of the health unit, said, “The board has made no decision on this matter. In October, we were advised that staff were doing preliminary consultation for consideration about rescinding the service, and the matter has not been brought back to us since then. But the information we are receiving from the municipalities is that health unit staff have been talking about the schedule for removal of the service. As a board member, I am definitely disappointed about this.”