by Julie Druker and Jeff Green

MacDonald named deputy mayor

An election was held for the post of deputy mayor of Central Frontenac for 2016. It will be a year in which the deputy may be called upon to do more work than in other years because Mayor Frances Smith will be busy fulfilling the role of Frontenac County warden in addition to her mayoralty duties.

Two candidates were nominated: Brent Cameron and Bill MacDonald. They both spoke briefly about their willingness to serve and they each also indicated they would be supportive if the other person was chosen.

Councilors Sherry Whan and Cindy Kelsey were absent, leaving six members of Council to vote. The vote was tied 3-3 and Mayor Smith cast the deciding vote for Bill MacDonald.

MacDonald has served six years as mayor of Central Frontenac and two as warden of Frontenac County, but this is his first term as deputy mayor.

Planning report

Township planner, Joe Gallivan, reported on the work plan for township planning for 2015 and 2016. He said that he hopes to bring forward proposals for an Official Plan update and a new comprehensive zoning by-law in the spring of 2016 for public scrutiny.

Both of these documents have been delayed, but Gallivan said, “That delay may be to the township's advantage, because indications are that the first Frontenac County Official Plan will be approved shortly and once that happens the County will be the approval authority for the township's Official Plan update.”

Since two members of Central Frontenac Council sit on County Council, Gallivan said the “County will be more aware of the reality on the ground in Central Frontenac than the current approval authority, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.”

He said minor Official Plan amendments can take over a year to complete when the approval is done by the ministry, and he expects a six-week time frame will be sufficient once the county takes over the approvals.

Building starts hit $7 million for 2015

Chief Building Official Jeremy Neven reported that as of the end of November permits for $6.9 million in building projects had been taken out, and a week into December that number has gone over $7 million. The total for the first 11 months in 2014 was $4.6 million and in 2013 the 11 month total was $5.6 million.

Permits for 18 new homes have been taken out this year, up from 10 at this time last year, and 15 in 2013.

Permit fees are set to hit $100,000 this year.

Olden waste site date changes effective Feb. 1, 2016

Council agreed to the recommendations put forth by Public Works Manager John Badgley to close the Olden waste site on Mondays and open it on Fridays instead, with the changes to take effect as of February 1, 2016. Badgley said that the change would give the Olden site attendant two consecutive days off. As well, due to low traffic counts, all waste sites in the township will be closed on Remembrance Day.

Council upholds no parking by-law on Anne Street in Arden

Regarding a request by an Arden resident at council's last meeting to park on Anne Street, council adopted Badgley's recommendation to deny the request since a no parking by-law is in effect there. “Staff do not need any more obstacles than they already have,” Badgely said when Councilor Tom Dewey asked him why an exception could not be made in this case since the resident has no place else to park at his home.

Dewey then asked council to defer the issue until staff could look further into it. Council upheld Badgley's recommendation, with Mayor Frances Smith stating, “We have a by-law in place and until it is changed it must be enforced.”

Council agreed to review the existing parking by-law in the new year and until that time the resident will, by law, have to park elsewhere.

Public Works Activity Report

Badgley reported that township staff are continuing to brush, grade and patch local roads throughout the township when the weather permits. A recent meeting with the trappers' council in an effort to get the township's beaver issues under control is ongoing and staff are perusing new ideas to address the issue. Crews have also been installing a fence at the Parham cemetery.

Fire Report

Fire Chief Bill young reported the number and types of calls received from December 1, 2014 to November 30, 2015. He said that the number of controlled burning calls, 22, is a continuation of a three-year downward tend. When questioned why the number of medical/resuscitator calls were so numerous, at 163, Young reported that the unit has been receiving these types of calls roughly every two or three days. Of the overall hours of servicing, these calls required 691 hours of service. Young said they are expensive to do since the department receives no outside financial assistance. Young also reported that training sessions and hours were up in this period as a result of a number of mandatory training sessions where often over 100 volunteers were required to take part. Council requested a break down in the calls per district in the township as a way to better understand overall service requirements and expenses.

Parham fire hall update

Fire Chief Young outlined changes in the costs to the building of the new fire hall in Parham, which included a $40,000 increase as a result of office code regulations to make the building's public library/community space fire rated. Young said he expects the building to open, if not before Christmas, then in the early new year.

Surplus equipment up for grabs for non profits/general public

Council passed a motion offering up the surplus equipment in the former public school in Sharbot Lake following council's recent acquisition of the property. The equipment will be up for grabs first to non-profit organizations in the township, and second to the general public at a nominal fee. The equipment includes desks, chairs, filing cabinets and shelving units. Chief Building Officer Jeremy Neven volunteered to head up the project.

CF Re-Use Center committee proceeds as planned

At council's last meeting, Councilor Victor Heese proposed setting up a re-use center at the Olden waste site, and at this meeting Heese and Deputy Mayor Bill MacDonald volunteered to sit on a planning committee. The committee will include members of the public and will investigate the viability of such a site. The re-use center's mandate is to “provide residents with a space to drop off usable items that will be offered free of charge to visitors”. The objective is to divert goods away from local landfill sites. It is expected that the site will be operated by volunteers.

Full day set for budget deliberations

Following his financial report to council, Treasurer Michael McGovern was asked by council when staff might have their numbers ready for upcoming budget deliberations. McGovern replied that it could take three weeks. Council set a date for Friday January 29 to meet for a full day of budget deliberations and McGovern agreed to get the numbers to council in advance of that meeting.

Delegations

Louise Moody, executive director at Northern Frontenac Community Services, made a presentation to council accompanying her $15,500 request to council for support for the multiple youth programs that NFCS offers in the township. The programming includes after school programs that are run out of St. James Major and Land O' Lakes schools, as well as the Child Centre. Last year 70 students were served. Programming included a day camp run at the Child Centre that had 29 participants aged 6-10, and a Steps to Success and Leader-In-Training program for older youth.

Youth dances, field trips, the Great Outdoor Adventure and Kids Fit Indoor Soccer were some of the other successful programs that Moody outlined.

Moody also hoped to recruit a member of council to the Northern Rural Youth Partnership, which has many members from various related organizations. Council accepted the report for information.

South Frontenac approves 2016 budget

Council spent little time approving the 2016 budget document, which they have looked over on several previous occasions, including an all day session in mid-November. The township will spend over $28 million in 2016 on operations and capital projects, an increase of $750,000 over 2015. Of those expenditures $11.5 million will be covered by grants from other levels of government and reserve funds, and $16.5 million will come from South Frontenac ratepayers.

The $16.5 million levy represents a 6.66% increase over the $15.5 million levy to ratepayers in 2015, but thanks to a healthy increase in new assessment (4.4%), the impact on the average ratepayer will be an increase of only 2.0% in taxation. According to the budget report by Treasurer Louise Fragnito, “the township share of taxation on a $228,223 property [the township average] will increase by 2%, which equals $26.22.” Fragnito made a number of adjustments to the document after the last budget session.

“The impact of all these adjustments aligns with Council’s direction,” she said.

(see editorial – The 2% budget)

“A Very Unusual Situation”

Not even the CAO could see a clear way through this quandary.

In a closed session after the regular Nov. 17 Council meeting, staff had been directed to draw up a settlement proposal for conditions of draft plan approval for the Johnson Point condominium plan. (Loughborough Lake east.) These conditions were brought forward for approval, along with maps and details of some boundary adjustments.

Newly appointed Deputy Mayor Sutherland then proposed an amendment to the plan, which would remove lot 15 from the plan, making it a ’common element open space’. This would bring the plan back to the original number of proposed units, reversing the decisions taken by Council on November 17th. Sutherland said that many local residents were very unhappy about the density of development that was being permitted on what he said is an already heavily developed lake.

Councilor John McDougall said he appreciated Sutherlands position, but felt such an amendment would be “returning to square one.” The township lawyer had approved it, he said, and this was the time “to settle, not support.”

Councilor Ron Sleeth said he was disappointed in ‘the lack of teeth’ shown by the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans and their representing agencies, and he would support the amendment.

Sutherland’s amendment passed.

Mayor Vandewal withdrew from the chair, to propose another amendment deferring the vote until the solicitor could be consulted, because in his opinion Sutherland’s amendment was contrary to what had been put forward by all of Council, and meant that the township has not been negotiating in good faith.

Vandewal’s amendment was defeated, then the original (amended) motion was brought forward, and it was also defeated.

In response to a question from the floor at the end of the meeting, Orr said “We’ll have to figure out how to move forward: I will consult our solicitor.”

A notice of motion for reconsideration would require 2/3 support to pass, and no one offered to make one.

James Campbell/ Public Beach on Canoe Lake

Wayne Orr read a motion that the Township “secure a clear public access point to Canoe Lake on James Wilson Road at the west end of the causeway between Canoe Lake and Eel Lake in the severance process of the adjoining land through the road widening, in line with the survey from J. Kennedy of Nov 30, 2015 on the road widening, and showing the high water and that the photo from Councillor Revill be included as part of the record and that cash in lieu of parkland be taken.”

This motion represented a solution, worked out between Mr. Campbell and Councilor Revill which seems to be acceptable to both Campbell and the Canoe Lake residents who have used that location for swimming for many years.

Ross Sutherland congratulated Revill and Campbell on having worked out a solution, and thanked Campbell. The motion passed with no further comment.

Sydenham Water Plant Contract Extended

Public Works Manager Segsworth recommended that Kingston Utilities’ contract for operation and maintenance of the Sydenham Water System be extended to the end of 2016, and the Public Services Committee tasked with developing a longer-term arrangement for the plant. Segsworth said the Utilities have provided ‘good and timely service’. Passed without discussion.

Community Project Grant Program

Council approved a staff proposal that the third year Community Project Grant Program be expanded to $15,000 by adding $5,000 from fees raised for the endorsement of solar projects. The maximum grant for this increasingly popular program will be raised to $2,000.

Support for Cycling Workshop

Council endorsed a Share The Roads Workshop sponsored by the Frontenac Rides Committee by committing $500 toward this event which is aimed at creating a clear work plan to help the Township become a more cycle friendly community.

Peer Review Policy

Council approved a peer review policy for planning matters, listing the circumstances under which a technical peer review would be mandatory or when it might be optional.

RED Grant Endorsement

Council endorsed a Rural Economic Development Grant application through the County of Frontenac and in partnership with the other Frontenacs to the limit of $8,000.

North Frontenac Mayor Ron Higgins said he knew he was going to hear about it when he indicated at a meeting of Frontenac County Council on November 12 that he was not going to support a request for funding from Pine Meadow Nursing Home.

As a member of Frontenac County Council, Higgins said the grant would be “outside of the funding obligations and from a fiscal responsibility point of view, I can't support it.

When the matter came to a final vote one week later, only seven of the eight members of the County Council were present, and three of them, Deputy Warden Frances Smith (Central Frontenac), and Councilors John McDougall (South Frontenac) and John Inglis (North Frontenac) were in support. Even with Higgins and the two representatives from Frontenac Islands (Mayor Dennis Doyle and Councillor Natalie Nossal) voting against it, the vote still would have gone Pine Meadow's way if Central Frontenac Councilor Tom Dewey supported it.

The motion that came forward was for a $10,000 annual grant for 10 years, which would have raised the county tax rate by 0.14% in 2016.

However, even though he had indicated he would vote in favour when the matter came up on November 12, when it came time to vote on the 18th, Tom Dewey said he had changed his mind.

“I know I was in favour of this last week, but there have been questions raised since then, and I need to vote based on good sense. We don't know what will happen with Pine Meadow's finances down the road, and my fear is that approving this funding would have a detrimental effect on Fairmount Home, so I can't support it.”

The vote was lost 4-3.

Before the vote was taken, new information was brought forward by Frontenac County staff.

Kelly Pender, the CAO of Frontenac County, had said on November 12 that Pine Meadow “runs annual deficits of $500,000,” and when comparing the operations of Pine Meadow and Fairmount Home, he said, “Pine Meadow does not have 24-hour nursing staff available and Fairmount does. I think Pine Meadow could learn a few things from Fairmount”.

Pender backed down from both statements on November 18, saying that the Pine Meadow deficit was a “one-time event at their fiscal year end this past March, which resulted from transferring a loan to a mortgage after the renovation of the home last year... They also do provide 24-hour nursing, which is not what I indicated last week, but they do not have a secure ward for certain dementia patients like Fairmount does, and that is an expensive service.”

In another report to Council, County Treasurer Marian Van Bruinessen pointed out that it costs $51,344 in annual salary costs per bed at Pine Meadow as compared to $68,823 at Fairmount.

“It is evident that salaries and benefits are the greatest difference in operational costs between Pine Meadow and Fairmount Home,” she wrote, adding that although Pine Meadow has not provided a breakdown of actual wage costs, “The difference in wage rates might be attributable to the proximity to Kingston and the competition for health care providers from other long term care facilities and hospitals in the local area.”

North Frontenac Township funding decision

Two days after the county meeting, Ron Higgins presided over a budget meeting of his own North Frontenac Council.

He explained why he had voted against the Pine Meadow funding at Frontenac County, leading Councilor Wayne Good to say, “We should have passed a motion at this council telling you how to vote on issues like that.”

“It doesn't work that way,” said Higgins. “I do not represent this council at the county. When I am there I have to think about the interests of the entire county, not just North Frontenac.”

“I don't agree,” said Good.

Higgins then put forward another proposal. He said that if North Frontenac put in $25,000 on the condition that both Central Frontenac and Addington Highlands do the same, that would raise $75,000. “Since Pine Meadow has $31,000 in their capital reserve fund, they would then have $106,000 available to pay for the new windows,” Higgins said.

“I don't see that we can ask Addington Highlands and Central Frontenac to support this,” said Councilor Gerry Martin.

Higgins then proposed that North Frontenac simply donate $25,000 towards the windows. He asked CAO Cheryl Robson if there was any money in reserves to cover the donation without having to raise it from 2016 taxation, and she said there is money in the township's capital reserve fund that can cover it.

“I guess we don't have a choice,” said Councilor Gerry Martin when the vote was taken.

Council voted to make the donation.

Two weeks ago, after years of fruitless requests, there was a chance that Frontenac County would approve a $105,750 grant, over 10 years, to support a capital project at Pine Meadow Nursing Home.

The home is not located in Frontenac County. It is owned by a not-for-profit corporation and run by a volunteer management committee. However it has a unique connection to Frontenac County.

A member of North Frontenac Council is appointed to the committee that oversees the home. Pine Meadow was built in the 1990s with the financial and volunteer support of groups and individuals from the former Kaladar Township in Lennox and Addington and Barrie Township in Frontenac County. That community support has remained constant ever since. Barrie Township (now ward 1- North Frontenac) makes up 45% of both the population and tax assessment of North Frontenac Township. Kennebec ward, which makes up 25% of the residents and tax assessment of Central Frontenac, also has a historic connection to Pine Meadow.

For those who live in the north-western corner of Frontenac County, Pine Meadow is an integral local institution, the largest employer and health care institution in the region, and the place where many Frontenac County residents spend the last year or two of their lives within reach of family and friends.

The proposal that came to Frontenac County Council last week was to spend, in a discretionary fashion, $100,000 on Pine Meadow over 10 years. During that time, that same council will requisition, by my estimate, $100 million from Frontenac County ratepayers.

Before the vote on the request was taken, Council received information from their staff that pointed out the risks associated with spending the money. They were told it might lead to the unions at Fairmount Home claiming the county had more money available for long term care than they had let on, and pouncing on that at the bargaining table. They were told that other not-for-profit homes with residents from Frontenac County might come looking for money. They were told this is not the kind of spending that fit with the long term financial planning that staff have meticulously constructed for the county.

These are all legitimate things for staff to say. They are doing their job.

I would point out, however, that when county staff were pushing County Council to approve a $2 million renovation to the Fairmount auditorium four years ago, another discretionary item, county staff did not make any of these points. County staff also did not oppose a request of $540,000 over 10 years to fund capital projects at Kingston General Hospital, another discretionary item.

In any event, the two councilors from Frontenac Islands voted against the grant to Pine Meadow. That is not surprising. They live closer to Syracuse, New York than they do to Northbrook.

But what really did the proposal in was the fact that North Frontenac Mayor Ron Higgins and Central Frontenac Councilor Tom Dewey both voted against it.

They did not do it lightly, but they pointed out that they felt it would be irresponsible to vote for the spending, given all the risks and the strict logic that they need to adhere to as County Council members.

I don't doubt their sincerity or their convictions; it's just that they were wrong. They were over-influenced, perhaps because they are new to County Council, by the bureaucratic and institutionally constricted logic that has been drummed into them since they arrived at their first county meeting less than one year ago.

Higgins and Dewey were elected by their constituents. Ultimately, no matter what anyone says, they represent their constituents to the county.

Yes, they need to consider the bigger picture, but they need to remember who sent them there and whose interests they are bound to represent. They need to pick their battles, to be sure. This was a little battle, and it was one that they could have won.

Frontenac County has virtually no footprint in its northwestern corner. Fairmount Home is a two-hour drive from Cloyne. The City of Ottawa is closer. Ambulance service comes from Lennox and Addington. The K&P Trail is located an hour's drive away.

All Frontenac County does for Ward 1 (North Frontenac) is requisition money through municipal taxes.

This was an opportunity, for very little money, to establish a small footprint for Frontenac County in one of its forgotten corners.

It was an opportunity squandered.

One more thing. Out of all this, some hard figures have come out. It costs $17,000 more in annual labour costs to pay for a bed at Fairmount Home than it does at Pine Meadow Nursing.

Frontenac ratepayers deserve to know why this is the case.

Developer Terry Grant has submitted a revised proposal for his Hartington subdivision, which scales the plan down from the original 47 lots to 13, all of which would be located within the hamlet of Hartington.

Hartington resident Michelle Foxton came as a delegate on behalf of her neighbours, many of whom were present, to express concerns about the current proposal. She thanked Council for their continued willingness to hear the community, and listed some questions which she said still have not been addressed.

Foxton focussed primarily on the ASC assessment of the nitrite/nitrate levels on the property. (ASC is the company hired by the developer to comment on the independently commissioned Macintosh Perry report, which in turn had peer reviewed the original Malroz environmental investigation/assessment of the site.)

ASC says that nitrate levels are high, but “Thirteen lots are proposed within the Hamlet, with the remainder of the property being vacant for the foreseeable future. On this basis and utilizing the full 45 hectare property for nitrate dilution, the anticipated nitrate loading for the proposed 13 lots would be well below the 10 mg/l (MOE) criteria.”

Foxton said that because there was no guarantee that the rest of the property would not be developed in the future, this was not a satisfactory answer, and recommended a maximum of 7 or 8 lots instead of 13. Signs held up by several audience members supported this.

Other remaining concerns included: lot frontages, uncertainty about hydrofracturing - has this been done, and if so, when and where, and what effect may it have had on the groundwater? Why has the provision for parkland been removed? Is there danger of future contamination from the corner of 38 and Holleford Road? Is there any way the community could be consulted about the aesthetics of the subdivision, i.e., the addition of a long stretch of chain link fencing and in one place, a high board fence, neither of which were seen to be compatible with the hamlet?

Planner Mills presented a lengthy revised report with a preliminary list of 27 draft plan conditions for the proposed 13-unit subdivision. He said that he had received more comments that day from Macintosh Perry, but had not had time to read them.

Council members seemed to prefer reducing the subdivision size to 7 or 8 units, and asked for a definitive answer about the question of whether or not fracking had taken place.

Mayor Vandewal reminded them that no matter what Council might recommend, final approval did not rest with South Frontenac, but would be based on the County’s interpretation of the recommendations of the environmental and engineering reports.

“The County will not approve a plan that cannot be defended at the Ontario Municipal Board no matter what our Council recommends,” he said.

Harrowsmith Community Improvement Plan (CIP)

Anne Marie Young, the County’s Economic Development Officer, announced that Harrowsmith had been chosen as recipient of this year’s Community Improvement Plan. Although initiated by the County, the actual program will be carried out by the township, and will begin with public meetings and community consultations. The goal of the program is to provide seed money (total $70,000) which can be issued as matching grants to assist in projects chosen by the community. Last year, Verona used the program to improve facades, signage, and general “sprucing up” of the village. Harrowsmith is seen as the gateway to the Frontenacs for anyone travelling north on Road 38.

2016 Budget Report

Treasurer Louise Fragnito reported on some budget details that would need Council approval before the final draft budget is brought to the December 1st Council meeting.

Six items have been put on hold pending follow-up reports to Council in early 2016: radio communications, baler (for recycling), playground equipment for Bowes Park, Storrington Centre, Fermoy Hall and Glendower stairs. Fragnito assured Council that these projects, representing a total of $586,000, are included in the budget so they can be completed once Council has further information.

She also listed ‘updates and additional information’ that will provide the funding necessary to establish a SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) reserve with an initial amount of $40,000, as requested last week by the fire chief.

The adjusted budget now represents $28,061,653 in reserve transfers and $16,534,642 to be raised from taxation, for operating and capital expenditures. “These adjustments align with Council’s direction and amount to a 2.0% or $26.22 impact on the average phased-in residential property.

MacMunn hired as new clerk/administrator in Central Frontenac

After holding an in camera meeting last Thursday (November 19), council has appointed Cathy MacMunn as the township's new clerk/administrator.

The decision came about following the recommendations to council by Frontenac County Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Pender in a “State of the Organization” report, in which he suggested three options for council and staff to address what he termed their existing “leadership gap” after former CAO Jim Zimmerman was let go in late June.

Mayor Frances Smith said that at Thursday’s meeting, council unanimously opted for the clerk/administrator option as “a leadership model” and the position was offered to Cathy MacMunn the following day.

MacMunn said she took the weekend to think it over and speak with her family.

MacMunn, who has been working at the township for the past 34 years in a number of roles, said she is pleased.

“What gave me the biggest push in making the decision is that I had the support of both council and staff. I look forward to continuing to serve the public in my new role,” she said

Ad hoc committee to plan for township's first re-use centre

Councilor Victor Heese brought a request by numerous residents who he said are willing to support and volunteer at a re-use depot if one were to be created in the township.

Heese recently looked at a number of existing re-use centers, including those in McDonalds Corners in Lanark Highlands, and at Glen Tay Road in Tay Valley, which are both working well. Council agreed to appoint an ad hoc committee to set the rules and regulations. Heese said that once it was up and running the site could be handed over to volunteers. Council encouraged Heese to go ahead with the plan.

Contaminated sites policy

In his financial report to council, Treasurer Michael McGovern reported that the $80,000 put aside by council in their 2015 budget for further investigations into possible contaminated sites is not required.

Councilor Dewey suggested putting the $80,000 in reserve funds for other unexpected expenses, such as the recent emergency Raymo Road bridge rebuild. Councilor Brent Cameron suggested holding the funds for any possible future contamination issues. McGovern said that Cameron's idea is a sound one but that smaller amounts could be accumulated for such a fund in the future.

Council accepted McGovern's report for information.

Council agrees to go RED

Cathy MacMunn outlined for council the Rural Economic Development (RED) Program, which County Council is currently leveraging as a means to support possible future projects put forth in each of the four townships in Frontenac county. The program provides cost shared funding support (up to 50% for municipalities) for projects deemed to strengthen rural Ontario. The aim of the program is to “better position” rural communities, organizations and businesses to create jobs and attract investment by encouraging collaboration and local partnerships, thereby providing benefits to more than one community.

A teleconference call that took place in November this year between county and township staff, resulted in the recommendation that one regional/partnership application from the county be submitted for the program's January 15, 2016 deadline.

That application will be geared to the Frontenacs' economic development charter themes, which include “Trips and Trails; Food and Beverages and Rural Life styles”. Council seemed excited by the possibilities and councilors Brent Cameron and Jamie Riddell, who both currently sit on the township's economic development committee, said that they will bring the news to the committee's next meeting.

Dogs in the halls request denied

Erin Godfrey sent a letter to the township, asking to rent the Oso hall for dog training classes. The township has no policy in place regarding bringing animals into their municipal halls. Numerous councilors brought up possible issues of cleanliness since the hall is often used by individuals and organizations who are serving food. Council denied Godfrey's request and said they will consult staff about the issue and get back to her.

 Holiday office closures

Signs and notifications at the township offices and on their website will notify residents of upcoming holiday closures and any relevant emergency contact information.  

North Frontenac set to invest $900,000 into existing office/township garage

At a meeting to lay the groundwork for their 2016 budget last Friday, November 20, members of North Frontenac Council came to a decision about the future of their township office.

They decided to spend about $500,000 improving the cladding, insulation and air flow in the office section of the existing building. They are also planning to build a 1,500 square foot extension to the front of the building at an estimated cost of $400,000.

Earlier this year, Councilor Denis Bedard prepared a report that outlined six options for Council to consider.

Option 1, to do nothing, was not considered a viable option because “from a health and safety point of view the building as it is now is inadequate” said Bedard.

When the report was tabled in the late summer, Council responded favourably to option 3, to build a new office at a township-owned property in Plevna and keep the existing building as a garage. The estimated cost of this option was $1.63 million.

In September, Council received a flood of letters and emails from residents expressing dismay over the plan for a new building, many citing the cost as more than taxpayers can handle after years of tax increases and the impact of a jump in OPP costs that will be felt in the coming budget years.

When the issue came back to Council last week, Mayor Ron Higgins said, “There are some issues that need to be addressed. From staff I see that heating issues are a priority and a public washroom is also a priority. We can address these things one at a time.”

“The consultant has provided an estimate of $500,000 for insulation and siding and windows. You can't piecemeal that; you have to do it all at once,” said Councilor Bedard.”

At this point Councilor Wayne Good said, “To put money in the existing building is like putting a motor in a 50-year-old car and thinking that you have something. $500,000 is total waste of money. I don't agree with it at all.”

At this point in the meeting, the idea of dealing with the problems in the existing building and putting in a new section, which will include washrooms, a foyer, and proper office space, was proposed.

“We should use a new addition for offices, not a council chamber as the consultant said. That would eat up all the space,” said Councilor John Inglis.

“I agree with John,” said Wayne Good, “if we get the staff into the new part, put in washrooms, and then gut the old section and think about renovating it later, I could see doing this.”

Ron Higgins said that a cost of $900,000 can only be taken on as a loan, because of immediate budget pressures.

Jeremy Nevens, the township's chief building official, was asked if he could seek verbal quotes from architectural firms that could put together preliminary drawings, based on information about the space needs for staff, showing how a new addition could be built and organised.

“We can use verbal quotes rather than a formal process as long as the cost is under $20,000, according to our procurement bylaw,” said CAO Cheryl Robson.

“I think I can make those calls. There are a number of good firms available to do this, as long as I can get the specifications about what is there now and what the needs are,” said Nevens.

“This will take us a year to set up, and we will start building in 2017,” said Higgins.

Manager of Community Development Cory Klatt was then asked if he can find updated information about the water at the site, which has been an ongoing problem for years.

Fire chief, treasurer positions filled

At their meeting this week, council announced that Eric Korhonen, who has been the interim fire chief, has been hired as the permanent fire chief. Kelly Watkins has also been promoted to the position of treasurer.

Sitting as a Committee of the Whole, Frontenac County Council had their last look at the 2016 budget on November 12, and are set to approve the document at a meeting this week.

The budget was developed with a target for operational costs of a 1.2% increase, based on the annualized Consumer Price Index increase as of August. Although costs were higher, a reserve fund was used to get to that number. On top of that, Council approved two extra expenditures of $30,000, one for a study and one for an allocation to the sustainability reserve fund, bringing the increase up to 1.9%.

Then, another $56,000 (0.65%) was put aside for replacement costs for county-owned buildings, bringing the total increase to 2.55%.

The only outstanding item is a potential donation to Pine Meadow Nursing Home, which will be decided before the budget is finalized (see Pine Meadow on page 1).

If the County does decide to support Pine Meadow, and does so over five years ($21,150 per year) it would increase the overall budget by 0.25%, bringing the overall increase to 2.8%.

Before sending the budget to this week's meeting for approval, South Frontenac Mayor Ron Vandewal asked, “Can I make my comments now or should I make them later?”

“You might as well make them now,” said Deputy Warden Frances Smith, who was chairing the meeting.

“I will not support the budget. I did not support the Economic Development strategy or the cost. I am not in favour of 2.5%. I will be voting no to this,” said Vandewal.

“Do you have a number that you could support?” asked Smith.

“I do not want to go over 2%,” Vandewal replied.

“Should we bring this back on the 18th of November or do you want to bring it back in December?” Smith then asked Vandewal.

“I won't be here next week, so December is best for me,” said Vandewal.

“I might not be here on December 16,” said Warden Dennis Doyle.

A motion to consider the budget bylaw on November 18 was approved. In a recorded vote, only Ron Vandewal voted against the motion.

Funding request is defeated in a 4-3 vote

(Update on this story. Tom Dewey of Central Frontenac has decided not to support the motion. Higgins still against it. The motion being voted on is for $105,750 over 10 years. There are only 6 members of council in attendance. 5 have indicated how they will vote. 3 for and 2 against. The final vote comes down to Natalie Nossal from Frontenac Islands. Recorded vote nossal votes no, motion defeated in a 4-3 vote.)

North Frontenac mayor, Ron Higgins, said he will be voting against a proposed grant of $125,000 for Pine Meadow Nursing Home when it comes up this week at Frontenac County Council.

The home, which is located in Northbrook, has asked the County for money in the past to help with capital projects. They asked for support on a yearly basis in the run-up to the rebuild of Pine Meadow, which was completed last year, but Councilors representing South Frontenac and Frontenac Islands have always voted as a bloc against the funding, ensuring that it has never happened.

When the matter came up last week at a meeting of the Committee of the Whole of Frontenac County Council, this time to pay for replacement bay windows in the older part of Pine Meadow, Councillor John McDougall from South Frontenac indicated he would be supporting the motion. This would give the elusive fifth vote needed for a majority in the nine-vote council (there are eight members of Frontenac County Council, and Ron Vandewal has two votes by virtue of being Mayor of South Frontenac).

But then Ron Higgins spoke.

“I struggled with this myself, but I can't see that the County of Frontenac should start supporting other homes. Based on the budget restrictions that we have in pace, I can't vote in favour, just from the fiscal responsibility perspective. I know I will hear about this,” he said.

Deputy Warden Frances Smith and Councillor Tom Dewey, both from Central Frontenac, as well as North Frontenac Councillor John Inglis, along with John McDougall, all indicated they would support the request. Ron Vandewal said that since he was already set to vote against the proposed 2016 Frontenac County budget because it includes a 2.5% increase, “so I can't support this because it will add even more to the budget.”

Warden Dennis Doyle and Councillor Natalie Nossal, both from Frontenac Islands, did not speak to the motion.

Frontenac County is the owner and operator of the Fairmount Home, which is located adjacent to the county offices. As a municipally run home, the 128-bed Fairmount Home receives $2.7 million from municipal taxation in addition to provincial funding and resident fees towards its $12 million annual operating budget. City of Kingston ratepayers contribute about $1.8 million and Frontenac County ratepayers will pay $908,920 towards the home's operating expenses in 2016.

By contrast, the 60-bed Pine Meadow Home receives only the provincial funding and resident fees with which to finance its operations.

Betty Hunter, a member of the Pine Meadow Management Committee, made the pitch for funding at the regular monthly meeting of Frontenac County Council on October 21.

“We are looking for only capital support,” she said at the time, “not operating funding, but this is a matter of some urgency for us. Pine Meadow is not located within Frontenac County, but neither is Fairmount Home. Pine Meadow serves a high percentage of residents from North and Central Frontenac.”

Pine Meadow received $250,000 over 10 years from the County of Lennox and Addington towards its rebuild and expansion project, which was completed a year ago. Like Frontenac County, Lennox and Addington also operates its own municipal home in Napanee, the John Parrot Centre.

In his report regarding the application for funding, Frontenac County Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Pender expressed the concern that supporting “a long-term care facility outside of our geographic boundaries will open the door for other facilities in neighbouring communities that routinely receive County of Frontenac residents.”

He also said that he was concerned about the “ability to pay” argument, which could surface in contract negotiations with unions and arbitrators representing Fairmount Home staff.

“If we can afford to financially support long-term care outside of our jurisdiction, the argument that we can only keep salary increases to the cost of living for our own employees would be weakened,” he said.

Pender also told the Committee of the Whole last week that he had requested financial statements from Pine Meadow after receiving the funding request in October, but had just received them and had not had a chance to look at them.

Ron Higgins then proposed a deferral of the motion to support Pine Meadow pending a review of the finances, and the matter was deferred until a meeting this week,

Since last week's meeting, the funding request has been clarified by Pine Meadow. The request is now $105,750. Pine Meadow administrator Margaret Palimaka said the Home would be happy to receive the money over five or even ten years.

“We would be happy to receive anything,” she said.

The proposal is included in the agenda for the county meeting that is set for Wednesday, November 18.

(This story will be updated at Frontenacnews.ca to reflect the results of that meeting)

A delegation from Frontenac County, including Pender, Fairmount Home interim administrator Steve Silver, and North Frontenac councilor, John Inglis, paid a visit to Pine Meadow in late October to meet with staff and administration.

Township to deal with MNR beaver dam

Addington Highlands has the go ahead to remove a beaver dam and “harass, capture or kill beavers” on a piece of Crown land that is located on the east side of Hwy. 41 at Mazinaw Hill, north of the entrance to Bon Echo Park.

Reeve Hogg sent a letter to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in early September, informing them that a beaver dam has created a 'small lake' adjacent to the highway, and that when the dam inevitably gives way there is every chance of flooding on several cottage properties to the west of the highway on Mazinaw Lake. Flooding is also possible on Road 41 at the bottom of Mazinaw Hill, Public Works Manager Royce Rosenblath told Council in early November.

Subsequently, the township has received a response from Suzanne Shalla, the resource management supervisor out of the Bancroft office of the Ontario MNR.

Shalla said that the township has the authority to enter onto “Crown land to destroy a dam in protection of property, which includes travel corridors and utilities, with no prior approval required... As the municipality whose infrastructure is threatened by this dam, your staff are empowered to manipulate or destroy the dam in order to protect your property as needed.”

At their meeting in Denbigh on Monday night, November 16, Reeve Hogg asked Rosenblath if his crews can begin dismantling the dam.

Rosenblath said crews will dismantle part of it and will then engage trapper Eythel Grant to set some traps before pulling the dam down entirely.

“They are bound to be pretty aggressive now as it is near winter,” said Rosenblath.

Meeting with new MP

Mike Bossio, the newly elected federal MP for Hastings-Lennox and Addington, has requested a meeting with Council in the wake of his election in October as part of the Liberal Party victory nationally.

The township is interested in talking about what role they can play as far as welcoming refugees is concerned and will bring that up at the meeting, which is set for 9am on November 30.

AH to second stage of provincial funding

The township has received notification that after considering their expression for interest for funding under the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) for a $900,000 construction project on Matawatchan Road in the northeast corner of the township, the project has been selected to move forward to the application stage. The application is due on December 16.

If the project is approved, which is not guaranteed at this point, it will receive 90% funding from the province and will need to be completed by the end of 2017.

Long memory hurts Greer Galloway

The engineering firm Greer Galloway, which has done work for 22 municipalities in south and north-eastern Ontario, sent a letter to AH asking that they be put on the township's list of approved vendors in order to bid on contracts in the township starting in 2016.

“Greer Galloway built a bridge for us in the 1980s and they were a metre off-line with it, leading to all sorts of costs that we had to pay. When we asked them to help pay, they said the MTO had approved the project so they were off the hook,” said Hogg.

“That was a long time ago,” said Councilor Tony Fritsch.

“Yes, but I remember, and I'm still here,” said Hogg.

Approval in principle for recreational program at Flinton hall.

Sara Clayton approached the township for free use of the upper floor of the Flinton Recreation Centre on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through the winter for a sports and arts recreation program she is setting up for children between 3 and 17 years of age.

Council approved the request in principle, saying that Clayton will need to see what uptake the program gets and return with a final request.

Road work on Old Addington Road

Wayne Snider approached Council for permission to do some work on the un-maintained Old Addington Road for logging purposes. The request was approved.