Central Frontenac Council decided to take another look at how a mandatory septic system inspection program might work, rescinding a motion it made two meetings ago asking staff to come back with a bylaw to be implemented before this summer.

The impetus for bringing the motion back came from Councilor Jamie Riddell who successfully argued that “some information wasn’t included” in the report the committee looking into the matter presented to Council at the Feb. 28 meeting. Riddell cited the cost of inspectors as well as potential liabilities costs to the municipality for taking over such responsibility.

“I think we as a municipality need to join forces with other municipalities to let the premier know one-size-fits-all does not work for all rural municipalities,” Riddell said. “We need some funding.

Councilor Tom Dewey said that while he supports in principle some form of inspection, “for a bylaw of this magnitude, I think we need to hold public meetings in all four districts, in the summer when cottagers can be here.

“And we still haven’t addressed island properties and/or water access properties. In the east basin of Sharbot Lake, there is no water access point at all.”

Dep. Mayor Brent Cameron, who is on the committee looking into ways the municipality might be able to help fund people faced with replacing their system, said they need more data and information to be able to determine the scope of the project.

“This is a very important decision,” Cameron said. “We need to get it as correct as we can.

“This affects every homeowner.”

Cameron said they need to look at how the municipality might enforce such a program and cautioned that even if they do order a system replaced, it could easily end up costing the Township money if simply added to the tax bill with interest charged.

“Over the course of a year, that’s credit card interest,” he said. “We can’t take the property for three years and if we end up having to seize the property for non-payment, after the school board and county get their cut, we could end up losing money.”

For his part, committee chair Victor Heese said he thought “reconsidering the original motion is a good idea.”

David Bucholtz, a representative from the consulting firm Cambium, made a presentation to Council on Friday morning regarding the state of the Township's waste disposal sites.

Bucholtz told Council that all of their current active waste disposal sites are meeting the compliance standards, set by the Ministry of Environment, for surface water and ground water contamination.

Cambium's predictions for lifespan on the Township's dumps differ significantly from the predictions that the Township's former consultants AECOM presented to Council in 2015.

Bucholtz said that the 506 dump site has approximately 30 years left in its life cycle compared to the 13 years that was estimated by AECOM in March of 2015.

The Plevna site also showed an increase in lifespan from 19 years to 42 years.

The Kashwakamak disposal site stayed the same with a predicted lifespan of 42 years left.

In 2015, AECOM predicted the Mississippi Station waste site had 46 years left in its lifespan and Cambium has now suggested that the site has 34 years left.

When asked about the disparity between AECOM's predictions for landfill longevity and Cambium's predictions Bucholtz explained that it probably had more to do with the way Cambium uses the data and makes their predictions.

“My only assumption at this point would be the average (of landfill) changing,” Bucholtz said.

Cambium makes predictions on lifespan based on the amount of waste that has been disposed of over the last 5 years.

“What helps also is the fact that we divert all of our bulky waste,” said Jim Phillips, the Public Works Manager for North Frontenac. “The fact that we're diverting all of that, at a cost,  is extending the life of our landfill.”

Bucholtz also explained that the Ardoch waste site, which is temporarily closed, still has approximately 37 years left in it, based on the average fill rates they have on record.

Cambium made a recommendation to Council to install another monitoring well at the Plevna site to test surface water contamination south of the landfill mound and also recommended that they address the issue of a beaver dam at the Cloyne site, which is used as a transfer station.

Building Permits Issued Down Slightly For 2017
A report from Scott Richardson, the Building Inspector for North Frontenac, showed 8 building permits have been issued so far this year which is down from 10 at this time last year.

Last year, 130 building permits in total were issued in North Frontenac which was up from 125 in 2015.

Official Plan Heads to Public Meeting
Council discussed amendments made in the latest draft of their Official Plan on Friday and didn't recommend any further amendments.

A Public Meeting regarding the Official Plan has been scheduled for April 22, 2017 at 10am.

Mayor Ron Vandewal made $31,144.34 for running South Frontenac Township in 2016, says an information item presented at the regular Council meeting Tuesday night. Of that, $26,315.79 was the honorarium for being Mayor, $2,497.55 was for mileage, $1,700 for conference per diem and $631 for ‘other’ (primarily communication and travel expenses) Vandewal received no remuneration under the “meetings” heading.

Deputy Mayor Ross Sutherland received $21,593 of which $14,061.42 was his honorarium, $3,150 was for meetings, $1,836.22 was for ‘other,’ $1,796 was mileage and $750 was conference per diem.

Coun. Alan Revill actually took home more than the Deputy Mayor at $24,381.05. Of that, $12,128.94 was the regular councillors honorarium, $5,450 was for meetings, $4,307.60 for mileage, 1,494 for ‘other’ and 1,000 in conference per diem.

As for the rest of Council, Pat Barr received $19,521.74, John McDougall $18,759.79, Norman Roberts $18,674 (which includes one month as Deputy Mayor), Ron Sleeth $18,022.79, Mark Schjerning $17,132.72 and the late Bill Robinson $10,045.28.
In total, Council remuneration cost the Township $179,275.71

No ban on parking on Walker Street
A motion to ban overnight parking at the Walker Street parking lot in Sydenham was defeated with only the mover, Coun. Ross Sutherland voting in favour.

“It’s sort of a small, very limited purpose lot for accessing the (K & P) Trail,” Sutherland said. “But there was an RV parked there for five days and it took up all the space so there was no place for anyone else to park.

“And I notice now that it’s getting even more use now.”

However Mayor Ron Vandewal didn’t like the idea of a total overnight ban.

“We should allow at least one night’s parking,” Vandewal said. “If somebody makes an effort to drive here and use the trail we shouldn’t tell them after a day of using it ‘you can’t stay here.’”

Vandewal also noted that “other than your RV, there’s only been one complaint about the parking lot.”

Vandewal also suggested that more than one year of data would be useful in making decisions about the lot.

Hockey heroes
The OMHA Ontario Novice East CC-C champion Frontenac Flyers were honoured for their victory this past weekend with a plaque presented by Mayor Ron Vandewal on behalf of the Township. Grinning almost as much as the team, Vandewal congratulated both coaches and players while noting “this is the first ‘Frontenac’ championship team since the arena’s name was changed from North Frontenac Arena.”

Quinte grant
Council supported Quinte Conservation’s bid for a grant to study to “prepare for the ever changing climate and the impacts that it has on everything that municipalities are involved in.”

Coun. Alan Revill said that while he supported the grant application, he’d like to see some plans as to how the three conservation authorities operating in the Township might “mesh together” for things like drought strategy.

As part of its ongoing effort to control the volume of waste entering its sites, Addington Highlands Council considered purchasing a manual lift gate to stop vehicles at the entrance to the Kaladar site in order for waste attendants to be able to inspect the load and ensure township diversion rules are being followed.

The cost of a solar powered automatic lift arm gate came in at almost $5,000. Deputy Mayor Bill Cox asked if one of the cheaper options that was also included in a report by Roads and Waste Supervisor Mark Freeburn would be a better choice.

“What if we move the little hut to the front, narrow the lane-way with some traffic cones, and put up a stop sign. That might be enough,” Cox said.

“We could try that for a year, and see if it works,” said Freeburn.

Freeburn said he will have to determine if the hut can be easily moved, and if so he will make the change.

The life expectancy of the Kaladar dump has been shortened in recent years, which is one of the reasons that the township is now refusing to accept construction waste, but it still accepts furniture.

A resident in attendance at the meeting asked why the township does not collect garbage from people’s homes as they do in  urban areas.

“I’m a senior and I can’t manage those large bags. Why can’t I at least buy my bags at Wallmart” she said. The township requires all household garbage to be dumped in clear bags purchased from the township.

“I’m a senior as well, and by the time we recycle there is not much left to go in the waste pile,” said Reeve Henry Hogg. “Besides picking up garbage would cost way more than we can afford in our waste budget. We can barely afford what it costs to maintain and monitor our sites.

As of April 5, new tipping fees will be in place. Small loads, measuring 1’ x 4’ x 8’ will cost $15, box springs, mattresses, appliances, sofas and carpets will all cost $30, fiberglass boats $100 and a ½ ton load of shingles will cost $35.

3.9 million in construction in 2016
Permits for construction worth an estimated $3.9 million were sold in Addington Highlands last year. That is up by almost $1 million from 2015 and is $135,000 shy of the total for 2014.

Ninety residential permits were sold in the township. The total value of new construction was $2.45 million. $1.4 million worth of additions and renovations were undertaken, and only $53,500 in commercial construction was undertaken.

Central Frontenac Council approved work on the Elm Tree Bridge as part of its 2017 budget at its regular meeting Tuesday night in Sharbot Lake.

Outgoing (interim) Public Works Manager Mike Richardson made the recommendation to Council, saying that “the Elm Tree Bridge replacement is recommended in the OSIM’s (Ontario Structure Inspection Manual) report for replacement by 2018.

“By completing this project, the municipality will be on track to being up to date with our OSIM report recommendations.”

The engineer’s estimated cost for the project is about $472,000.

Treasurer Mike McGovern told Council that given the $414,000 budget deficit oversight and the $62,000 OCIF grant municipal contribution, the project would have “no impact” on the municipal levy for 2017.

However, using that “found money” for the bridge didn’t sit well with every councillor.

“It bugs me that we’re going to spend all of it and not use it to reduce the levy,” said Coun. Phillip Smith.

“I’d like to see the money put in reserves and applied to reducing the levy,” said Coun. Tom Dewey.

“We’ve got a lot of hard-top roads that need attention like Crow Lake and Arden Road,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

However, Richardson and McGovern both argued that getting this particular bridge off the to-do list would produce long-term benefits for the Township.

“We have 34 bridges and over the past six years, public works has concentrated on bringing the municipality up to where it should be with respect to bridge maintenance and replacement, equipment replacement and maintenance,” Richardson said. “Once this bridge is completed, the municipality can concentrate on road improvements, like Fifth Lake Road.

“Roads that are commuter roads, and connecting link roads that transport commerce from one community to another should be looked upon more favourably for grant eligibility.”

Another reason to do the bridge now, Richardson said is that because the bridge was cited in the OSIM report, if something were to happen on it, the municipality could be held liable for any damages incurred.

In order to accommodate the project, the Armstrong-Cross Road intersection project will be put on hold.

Road work
But it’s not as if none of the  roads are going to get attention this year. Richardson said another 1.4 kilometres of Arden Road will get resurfacing and “Bell Line has a need for extra attention. We’ve lived with it for a number of years now.
“We’ll go round and round fixing potholes until it gets dry and people start complaining about dust.”

Richardson also reported that the Township needed an additional $50,000 worth of sand to get through this winter.

Waste Disposal bylaw
Council passed revisions to its Waste Disposal Bylaw which reflect changes to the wording updating the Township’s Certificate of Approval to Environmental Compliance Approval, as well as changes to hours of operation, fees, garbage bag requirements and recycling policy that have been made in the past five years.

Mandatory Septic Reinspection revisited?
Coun. Jamie Riddell served notice of motion to reopen discussion on septic tank inspections. The motion carried.

“Do no harm.”

That’s how Craig Bakay started his article in opposition to the Central Frontenac Septic System Maintenance and Assessment Program passed by Council.

Do no harm.

That is exactly what a septic system is supposed to do. It takes potentially dangerous waste, neutralizes it and returns it back into the environment. But it needs help in the form of regular maintenance. Encouraging regular maintenance is the focus of the Septic System Maintenance and Assessment Program. The benefits of regular maintenance are well documented: system performance is improved, system life span is lengthened, the likelihood of expensive repairs is reduced, property value is protected.

The risks of a failed system are also well documented. People’s health is at risk either by direct contact or by bacteria being introduced into the food stream. Untreated effluent can make its way into the groundwater system and contaminate well water. Nutrients remaining in effluent increase weed and algal growth in lakes, which draws oxygen out of the water, affecting the habitats of fish and other wildlife.

The Septic Re-Inspection Committee spent over three years looking into how to best protect human health, the environment and the economy. We believe the program that we recommended to Council is the most cost-effective and efficient way to accomplish these goals.

Pumpers and haulers will be licensed and trained by the township to perform a simple assessment at the time of pump-out. The assessments, forwarded to the township, will rate a number of items by a colour code: green means OK, yellow means minor repair or maintenance is suggested, red means that the system has failed or is failing.

Green and yellow assessments will be handled by the township. Only red assessments will be forwarded to Public Health. A red assessment is a serious matter. It means that human health or the environment are at risk. Remedial actions will be required. And, yes, these repairs or replacement can be expensive.

However, according to a Public Health Inspector working in Central Frontenac, in his more than 30 years experience, no one has ever lost their home because of a malfunctioning septic system. NEVER! Public Health will work with the homeowner to find a solution.

No program is free. There will be some cost, but this innovative program will provide the information that the township needs at a low cost with a minimum of inconvenience to the homeowner. Licensing, training and assessment forms will be provided to the pumpers and haulers at no charge, so there will be no cost that they will transfer to their customers. Tank lids will already be exposed for the pump-out, so the homeowner will not be inconvenienced. The assessment should only take an extra few minutes, so the added charge to the homeowner should be low.

The cost for failing to implement this program, however, could be high. For years, owners of lakefront properties have been reporting that water quality is deteriorating. There are more weeds, more algae, bad smells. If this continues, the value of waterfront properties will decrease. With a decrease in the value of waterfront property, the portion of taxes paid by these homeowners also decreases, which means that everyone else will have to make up the shortfall. We have a problem with water quality in Central Frontenac. We can use lofty rhetoric to justify sticking our heads in the sand and ignore the problem. Or we can try to do something about the problem. The Septic System Maintenance and Assessment Program is an attempt to do just that.

Proposed Regulation of Outdoor Furnaces
Since the issue was first addressed in June 2007, Council has been aware of concerns about lack of regulation of outdoor furnaces, or “outdoor solid fuel combustion appliances”, as they are formally named. There were concerns that too many such furnaces were being installed in built-up areas where their emissions could affect nearby residents. Property owners expressed fears that toxic materials might be used as fuel. At that time, Council considered a planning department recommendation for a zoning by-law to regulate placement of these devices, and decided that more discussion was needed.

In January 2012, the matter was brought to the Committee of the Whole, which could not reach consensus. Fast forward to February 2017, when Council asked the Planning Department to draft a by-law to regulate these appliances, and also asked the building department to create a permit system similar to the wood stove permit system.

This week, following impassioned pleas from residents Mary Royer and her neighbour Jim Varrette, who described the discomforts they endure because of the smoke from a nearby outdoor furnace, Planner Lindsay Mills submitted a full report, with draft bylaw and zoning recommendations. These addressed: setbacks from lot lines and other accessory buildings and trees; installation requirements and listing of permissible and non-permissible fuels. They also recommended prohibiting operation from May 1st until October. Discussion followed, with Council finally agreeing to refer the issue to the Corporate Services Committee, for further tweaking of the proposed by-law.

Unfortunately for Royer and Varrette, any regulations which might be approved will not have jurisdiction over currently existing furnaces.

Parkland Retained
Council turned down an application to purchase a 4.77 acre parcel of parkland on SIlverwood Lane near Loughborough Lake which was dedicated as part of a 1978 subdivision agreement. Planner Mills commented that this same request has been refused twice before.

Repairs to Fermoy Hall
Councillor Revill reported that he and Councillor Barr had met with a group of Bedford residents to review the proposed repairs needed to maintain Fermoy Hall as a safe and inviting meeting place. The goal is to use the hall on a seasonal basis from mid-May to Thanksgiving. Estimates for the work fall within the funds budgeted, and Council agreed the work could proceed.

Province Developing “Affordable Housing Act”
Mills provided the Committee with an overview of the New Provincial legislation which, when passed, will require amendments to the Township’s Official Plan to include policies aimed at increasing the supply of ‘affordable’ housing in the Township. This new legislation is expected to include initiatives to support creation of secondary suites in single detached houses. Council agreed that this can be deferred until the Township’s Official Plan is next reviewed.

Future of Wolfe Lake Solar Power Project Uncertain
On the day of Council meeting, the Township received notice that the applicant has decided not to proceed with the Wolfe Lake solar farm project, as the property is being sold. Nonetheless, delegate Pam Vaughan spoke to Council of her opposition to the proposal, on the grounds that it would be unsightly, noisy, destructive of the soil, harmful to tourism, and possibly desecrating an archaeological site.

She asked whether the project would still be coming forward with a new owner. CAO Orr said he couldn’t answer this, for it is not known whether or not the solar company’s lease was particular to the previous owner, or is tied to the property itself, in which case the proposal could possibly be resubmitted.

Addington Highlands Council is interested in a joint Councils meeting with North Frontenac, just not on the timetable North proposed.

Responding to a request from North at its regular meeting Monday in Flinton, several councillors reported that they were unavailable for the suggested dates of the weeks of March 20 or March 27. Add to that Addington Highlands Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed has already booked vacation time during that period and would also be unavailable.

On the agenda for said meeting would be a discussion of the Kaladar-Barrie Fire Department 2017 budget with Chief Casey Cuddy.

Council instructed staff to suggest April 5 or 7 as alternate dates for the meeting.

Reeve Henry Hogg even suggested a location for the meeting — Barrie Hall in Cloyne

“I can walk to there,” Hogg said.

Billa flint remembered
Flinton resident Dale Smart was at Council requesting a plaque be put on her house commemorating one of its earlier residents — Billa Flint, for whom the village was named (originally Flint’s Mills).

“He was also our first senator,” Smart said. “The town was laid out in 1860 and I believe the house was built in 1885.

“It’s the most historic place in town at the moment.”

Coun. Tony Fritsch said: “we don’t have anything in place (for things like erecting plaques.)”

“It hasn’t come up,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

Fritsch suggested contacting the historical society to see if they had any policies or information on heritage properties.

“We’ll look into the for you,” said Hogg.

Tipping fee delay
Following the recommendation of Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed, changes to tipping fees at Addington Highlands waste sites will go into effect April 15 as opposed to April 1.

“This will give attendants two more weeks to hand out notices,” she said.

South Frontenac Council gave the approval to have drawings made up and call for tenders on the new Perth Road Firehall at its regular meeting Tuesday night in Sydenham.

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth told Council that the architect’s estimate to build the structure was $1.4 million but added: “I’ve talked to a couple of local contractors who say they can do it for less.

“My own feeling is that when it goes out to tender, it won’t be that much.”

As the design now sits, it includes three in-and-out bays, and a meeting room for 30 people. Segsworth said he’d like to see an accessible washroom added to the design because firehalls tend to get used for public meetings and gatherings.

There were those on Council, like Coun. Alan Revill, who advocated for sending the design back to committee to see what could be cut out.

“It’s far more cost-effective to look at cost cutting measures at this stage rather than after it goes to tender,” he said.

Coun. John McDougall also preferred taking another look.

“I think it’s unlikely local contractors would come in $.4 million less,” he said.

Some, like Coun. Ron Sleeth just wanted to get the price down.

“Are we setting a precedent here spending so much on a hall that doesn’t get as many calls as busier ones like Sydenham?” Sleeth said.

But much of Council was ready to put it out to tender and see what happens.

Mayor Ron Vandewal reminded Council that they had gone to look at firehalls that came in under $1 million.

“I’m not comfortable with anything over $1 million,” Vandewal said. “And I don’t think it will go over that.”

“There’s not a lot out there right now for local contractors to bid on,” said Dep. Mayor Norm Roberts. “And I don’t want to go over $1 million either.”

Flags ordered
After much debate, and the revelation that the Mayor isn’t crazy about the colour blue, Council opted to order 10 flags with the South Frontenac logo on a field of white.

The proposed alternative was the blue bars and cattails on a field of blue that was specifically assigned to the Township by Canada’s official herald.

Cost of the 10 flags is $893.93. They will be displayed at various open houses, luncheons, parades, festivals, fire halls and garages.

Road sealing - in house?
During the process of getting $70,000 approved for road sealing, the inevitable question of “why can’t we do this in-house?” came up.

Based on a price increase, Coun. Ross Sutherland said “words like collusion and gouging come to mind.

“I’m not saying that’s what’s happening but we can’t continue with these price increases and maintain our budget.”

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth said “it’s largely a matter of expertise and capacity.

“The contractors that do this work have the expensive equipment it takes and can order hotpatch in volumes we can’t.”

Segsworth said if the Township could order on the scale that “some of our upper tier neighbours do” then they could probably see better prices as well.

Coun. Vernon Hermer will be required to apologize to Council and “send a follow-up email to a resident correcting his (Hermer’s) inaccurate statement” following a charge that Hermer breeched Council’s code of conduct in an email to a resident.

Specifically, the issue was referring to the matter of renovations/retrofits/additions to the municipal building. When a resident sent an email questioning the project, Hermer responded in part: “believe me, I don’t feel that the residents position or opinion concerning this project was respected or even considered in their decision to move forward.”

Originally, the matter was to be discussed under closed session (identifiable individual) but Hermer himself insisted that it be brought into open session.

Mayor Ron Higgins said he found Hermer’s remarks “disrespectful” and “inaccurate because we did consider the opinion of residents.”

Coun. John Inglis agreed.

“I felt offended,” Inglis said. “We took in all the input and decided on it as a Council.

“As a person who has received a sanction in the past, I understand (and) I support his right to tell a constituent he disagreed with the decision.”

Higgins also recommended to Council that the Township appoint an integrity commissioner because without one, they can’t impose penalties such as committee appointments and/or remuneration.

For his part, Hermer argued that the Township’s procedural bylaw contravened the Charter of Rights and Freedoms’ provisions for freedom of speech.

On North Frontenac Council, at least, it seems that speech may be free but still carries consequences

Other Items From Council

Higgins to replace Bedard on Joint Fire Board
Mayor Ron Higgins will replace Coun. Denis Bedard on the joint fire committee with Addington Highland Township.

“I wanted to do this so that heads of council from both townships were represented on this,” Higgins said.

When the possibility of renegotiating the agreement came up, Higgins said: “I’m not comfortable discussing some of these things without Addington Highlands representatives at the table.”

Easy Payments
North Frontenac will now be accepting payments via debit and credit cards.

“This is a great leap forward,” said Coun. John Inglis.

Chaos at the waste sites?
With new rules coming to the landfills, Coun. Denis Bedard wondered “there will be chaos for a period of time, should there be a grace period?”

Public Works Manager Jim Phillips reminded Council that the new rules would be going out with tax notices.