AH to go it alone on transportation

After attending meetings with members of L&A County Council as well as staff from Seniors Outreach Services (SOS) in Napanee, Addington Highlands Council and Land O'Lakes Community Services (LOLCS) have decided to submit their own application for funding from a Ministry of Transportation Grant program for rural transportation services.

Susan Andrew-Allen and Marlene Dacuk from LOLCS were both on hand at a council meeting in Denbigh on Monday night (January 19). LOLCS intends to seek $54,000 in funding over two years to provide dispatch services for volunteer rides to medical appointments and other services for people who are under 60 years old in the township. LOLCS already offers rides for those over 60 using funding from the Local Health Integration Network.

Although it would be desirable for there to be only one funding application from Lennox and Addington County, a number of factors, including the $100,000 upper limit for the grant, have made a joint application between LOLCS and SOS unworkable.

“It is unclear how the funds would be divided up even if we were able to get the maximum $100,000 funding in a combined application with Seniors Outreach Services,” said Andrew-Allen.

There was talk, at the county meeting, Andrew-Allen said, of only 10% of the funding, or $10,000 going to LOLCS.

“You wouldn't be able to really do anything with $10,000 over two years,” said Councilor Bill Cox.

Council members also questioned whether the Napanee-based organization SOS and the County itself are committed to services in the rural parts of L&A.

“SOS kept saying that Arden is in Addington Highlands, to give you an idea where they are coming from,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

Bill Cox moved that the township prepare its own application for $54,000, and council agreed.

Saving the Flinton Jamboree

Andy Anderson appeared before Council in the wake of a decision by the Flinton Recreation Club and the Thibault family not to continue with the Flinton Jamboree this summer.

Anderson, a long-time member of the Addington Highlands Economic Development Committee, said that the Jamboree is an important event for local businesses and that the August long weekend is also a very important anchor for the summer season.

“We need to act immediately to stop this from slipping away for a year, because if it does we will never get that weekend back,” he said.

He added that he has been talking to people about getting involved ever since he heard that the Recreation Club wants to step back, and feels he can put a steering committee together to save the event provided he can contact people who attended the Jamboree in the past as quickly as possible to reassure them that it will be going on again.

“What do you need from us, because as you know we are not about to run it,” said Reeve Hogg.

“All I need now is free use of the site and for the township to cover the insurance,” said Anderson.

Council was reluctant to commit to covering the insurance since the new group that Anderson hopes to put together in the coming days does not have a legal status, such as a not-for-profit corporation or a committee of council would.

A motion to support the Jamboree in principle and look into the matter with the township's insurer was proposed and passed.

One convention per councilor

A draft bylaw to approve the township covering the cost for one convention/conference (such as the Good Roads Convention in February or the Ontario Municipal Association conference in August) was opposed by Bill Cox, who said he finds it helpful to attend two conferences. “There is a lot of worthwhile information passed out at those conventions,” he said.

Reeve Hogg said he put the number one in the bylaw in order to get it on the table, and Council could change the number if it wants to.

No one spoke up and the one conference rule was approved with one dissenting vote.

AHCC – Denbigh – Septic woes

It will cost thousands to pump out and repair the septic system at the Addington Highlands Community Centre-Denbigh. Councilor Tony Fritsch said that the system was backed up week. Part of the problem is that the system has two tanks and the channel between them is blocked and needs clearing. It will require two pump trucks at several hundred dollars each as well as a repair to the opening, which requires someone to go inside.

“Any volunteers from Council?” asked Public Works Manager Royce Rosenblath, who was waiting to give his own report.

The entire job will cost “thousands”, said Fritsch.

“It needs to be done,” said Reeve Hogg.

You can't please all the people ...

Royce Rosenblath said that crews have been busy with winter maintenance and that he receives service complaints on occasion from township residents.

“Some of them say we plow too early and some say we plow too late. I even heard both of those complaints from people living on the same road, not far from each other,” said Rosenblath.

Good news, not so good news, and a pending lawsuit – NF Council gets down to business.

Members of the new North Frontenac Council had already spent a fair bit of time together since New Year's before they met for their first business meeting of 2015. Last week, they spent two days looking at their strategic plan and strategic directions, topics that are well within the comfort zone of their new mayor, Ron Higgins, who is a consultant by trade.

At their regular meeting on Monday, January 12, a number of long-standing matters needed to be addressed.

The most pleasant task was to receive good news about the Ompah fire hall, which had been plagued by problems in the past. First there was an unsuccessful attempt to build a new fire hall in a newly purchased site across the road in conjunction with an ambulance base. This was followed at least two thwarted attempts to hire a contractor to fix up the existing fire hall, which is attached to a community and a local library.

Finally, a year ago council decided to trust in a community-run group to take a piece by piece approach to the job. The work was overseen by a community volunteer, Steve Sunderland, and at the time a cost of $300,000 was estimated for completion of all the small jobs, which when taken together would lead to a fully refurbished multi-use facility.

In a presentation that was delivered by Ompah resident Marily Seitz, it was reported that at this point the project is mostly complete and the estimated total cost upon completion will be $273,000 - 10% under budget. Seitz then presented a proposal to do some extra work to brighten up and modernize the inside of the community hall.

“We are delighted with the improvements to the exterior of the fire hall and community centre. The old hall was grimy, aged, and a bit ragged. Now it is a beautiful building on a clean, neat site. Inside, the community centre is in need of attention now and the committee has agreed on a number of improvements,” Marily Seitz said.

The proposals include the installation of new windows and skylights, replacing the ageing fluorescent lights with LED pot lights, constructing a closet and fixing up the front hallway.

In order to complete these improvements, which have been costed at about $22,000, the committee is asking that the township re-invest $10,000 of the savings that have been realized in the overall project towards the new work. The committee will provide about $4,000 in volunteer labour and will endeavour to fundraise for the rest, about $8,000.

Councilor John Inglis, who has long been a supporter of the project, said, “What happened here is a great success story. By all indications we got some real value out of this. I suggest we allocate $15,000 to the indoor improvements, and let the committee get on with finishing their work. That would leave us $10,000 to put towards some future project.”

Councilors Denis Bedard and Deputy Mayor Fred Perry expressed support for Inglis' proposal, but Councilor Wayne Good was reluctant. “With the increase in policing costs this year we know we are going to have to raise taxes. If we keep giving this money away we are going to have to raise taxes more,” he said, “maybe we can do the $10,000 but no more than that.”

“The request is $10,000; my recommendation is we stick to that,” agreed Mayor Ron Higgins.

Council did just that.

Voluntary septic inspection program falls short again

Out of a planned 100 inspections of septic and grey water systems on waterfront properties, only 37 were completed in 2014. The reason for the shortfall, according to Eric Kohlsmith of the Mississippi-Rideau Septic System Office, is that for the last two years the program has been focussing on inspecting properties whose owners have ignored inspection requests in the past.

After receiving a very poor response to a mailout in June, well under 10%, the township agreed to expand the program to include properties whose owners had never been approached. Even though it was late in the summer before those property owners were approached, the response was still better.

Of the 37 systems that were inspected, just under 50% required some remediation, mostly at only a minor cost, and two systems needed to replaced. The good news for the property owners is that the two that need replacing are not full blown septic systems, which can cost $10,000 in some cases; they were grey water systems for shower or sink water and the replacement cost is not nearly as high.

Council decided to contract Mississippi-Rideau to run a voluntary program again in 2015, approaching mostly property owners who have never been approached, in anticipation of a mandatory inspection system to be implemented in 2016. The mandatory system would force the 350 property owners on some of the larger lakes who have ignored requests in the past to undergo inspections.

To that end, the township will invite Councilor Mark Burnham from Tay Valley Township to discuss the mandatory program for waterfront properties in that township.

Norcan Lake Property owners present ultimatum to Council

A group of property owners from a controversial property development on Norcan Lake, which borders Greater Madawaska Township to the northeast of Ompah, came to Council. For the last three years the property owners have been asking council to force the developer, David Hill, to live up to the requirements of the plan of subdivision that was approved for the development.

This time the presentation was made by Paul Martin, one of the property owners. Martin said he did not want to go over ground that has already been covered, but he briefly pointed to a number of facts that have brought the property owners to a point of extreme frustration, not only with the developer but with the township as well.

The crux of the matter is that a road that the developer had committed to completing to provide water access to the property owners as part of the agreement has not been completed. The township held back a deposit as part of the agreement, pending completion of all the terms of the agreement, but released most of those funds before the road had been completed and approved by their public works department.

Last fall the township attempted one more time to engage the developer in the hopes that an acceptable roadway could be completed, to no avail, and decided to enforce the subdivision agreement.

One of the issues that Paul Martin raised was that the law firm that represents the township, Cunningham Swan, also represents David Hill, a situation that should never have occurred and one that the property owners are raising with the Law Society of Upper Canada.

The property owners sent a letter to the township on December 15. The letter outlines their grievances over the situation, and provides two options for resolving their concerns.

The first option is for the township to “complete the subdivision requirements as per the subdivision agreement 100%, using whatever means they feel necessary to do so.”

The second option would accept a proposal by the township for an alternative route to the water, but since the roadway would be less than what the property owners originally agreed to, they demand that they be released from their obligations under the subdivision agreement: “We the landowners are to be removed from any liability for and obligations” with respect to the agreement.

One of the many peculiarities about this particular subdivision agreement is that at the end of the day the township was never planning to assume responsibility for the road, as is normally the case with plans of subdivision in Ontario.

The letter concludes by saying that if the township does not agree to either proposal by January 15, the property owners will be seeking a legal remedy.

After Paul Martin had completed his statement to Council, Mayor Higgins said that he “must caution members of Council not to respond to what has just been said.”

He then read in a motion that he had prepared before the meeting. Among other things the motion instructs the public works manager to proceed to complete the road using the alternate route, but says nothing about whether the township will then release the landowners from their responsibilities under the subdivision agreement.

Anticipating that this may lead to court action by the property owners, the motion also imposes a gag order on members of council on the matter.

When interviewed outside the meeting, the angry group of property owners said they are not prepared to leave this alone.

“They have let the developer dictate the terms to them for long enough,” said property owner David Milloy. “We are completely fed up, and everything - I mean everything - that we have found out over three years will likely come out in court.”

2% - 2.5% budget increase set as target in Central Frontenac

At their first meeting of 2015 on Tuesday, January 13, Interim Central Frontenac CAO, Steve Silver, outlined for council how the budget process will be undertaken this year,

Staff will meet late in January once the year-end numbers for 2014 are in, and will consider their needs, “keeping in mind both service levels and potential savings due to lower fuel costs,” he said.

A day-long council meeting will be set for early February for the different department heads to present their draft budgets to council, and a proposed overall budget will be presented in early March.

“It would be useful for the process if Council gave staff a budget target. That way each department can either reach the target, or if they can't, provide options for changes in service levels to meet the target for council's consideration,” he said.

Mayor Frances Smith recommended a target of a 2% increase, and Councilor Sherry Whan agreed. Councilor Tom Dewey revised the figure to between 2 and 2.5% and that figure was agreed to by most of the rest of Council.

CAO, PWM hiring processes undertaken

After a meeting of the ad-hoc human resources committee, Steve Silver presented proposed advertisements and job descriptions for the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and Public Works Manager (PWM) positions. The deadline for applications for both positions was set for February 6 in the hopes of filling the positions by early April.

Septic reinspection

Eric Kohlsmith from the Mississippi-Rideau Septic System office reported on the voluntary septic reinspection program for 2014, which focused its efforts on the village of Sharbot Lake. The village was chosen this year because there is a high density of septic systems on the lake and its west basin is classed as a trout-sensitive lake.

The target for inspections was 38, and 24 were completed. Three hundred and fifty-five property owners were approached by letter. Of the 24 systems that were inspected, 10 were given a clean bill of health and 14 needed at least minor work done on them. None of them required replacing.

Council decided to renew the program for 2015, and will be hearing later in the year from a township-based committee which will be proposing a mandatory system, whereby property owners who are approached will have no choice but to participate in the program. Mississippi-Rideau is prepared to undertake such a program for the township, but in order to do that they would have to become the body that does all septic inspections in Central Frontenac. Currently, septic approvals for new or modified systems are done by Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Public Health, who also offer a mandatory re-inspection service.

Construction starts sneak over the $5 million mark with late year surge.

Thanks to a busy December in which permits for $645,000 in construction value were issued (as compared to $113,400 in December 2013 and $41,700 in December, 2012, the total construction value for 2104 reached $5.3 million, down from $5.7 million in 2013 and $5.9 million in 2012. Permits for 11 new residential units and three new seasonal units were sold in 2014.

The total revenue of the department was up by about $1,000 from 2013 at just under $70,000.

Chief Building Officer Jeremy Neven also presented a report about building code enforcement in 2014. He issued 23 orders for non-compliance, most of which were for building without a permit. Of those, 10 cases were resolved voluntarily and one file resulted in a prosecution.

Safety boot allowance

On the recommendation of interim CAO Silver, council approved a pilot project whereby the township will provide a $120 allowance for all full-time public works staff and all full and part-time waste site staff to buy approved safety boots. The project will cost up to $2040 if all eligible staff members take advantage of it.

South Frontenac takes a first look at capital budget

Much of the 2015 South Frontenac capital budget consists of relatively small expenditures and two larger amounts that were set in place several years ago: $5 million in road reconstruction work and $500,000 for the replacement of ageing machinery.

The road construction budget is part of a 10-year road improvement plan, and this year involves $1 million for Yarker Road, $1.125 million for resurfacing various roads, along with work on Washburn Road ($300,000), the Camden/Portland Boundary Road ($600,000), Bobs Lake Road ($400,00), and $500,000 for road rehabilitation in the village of Bellrock, among other projects.

As far as equipment goes the plan is to purchase a tandem dump truck, two backhoes and one half ton truck.

The one item that has the largest effect on the budget is the projected $2.2 million cost of a new fire hall in Perth Road Village.

As the result of all this spending, the projected cash reserves of South Frontenac are set to drop from $16.4 million at the beginning of the year to $13.5 million at the end of 2015.

In terms of spending on recreational facilities, a lot of work is planned for the Point Park in Sydenham, including a $100,000 cost for shoreline restoration and enhancement and another $100,000 to tear up and replace the football field. The football field project, which would require that the field be out of service for a full year, from spring 2015 until spring 2016, will only be done if the Limestone District School Board agrees to pay half of the cost - $50,000.

“We are waiting until we hear from the school board, but the field needs to be rebuilt or it will become unusable,” said Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth.

As staff members went over the capital budget, councilors asked a number of questions for clarification. Debate on the merits of proposed projects will take place at a meeting on January 27. At that time details about the plans for the Perth Road fire hall will be available.

Federal grant for township museum

The federal government has approved a $50,000 grant to help pay some of the costs of making the planned township museum in Hartington a fully accessible facility.

“We applied for $76,0000 and they are giving us $50,000” said Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Orr. The rest of the money has been allocated in the proposed township budget for this year.

Johnston Point Development

The proponents as well as the township planning department made presentations about a proposed 14-unit plan of condominium on a 100 acre parcel of land on a shallow bay of Loughborough Lake off North Shore Road. Most of the required reports (archaeological, hydro-geological, environmental impact, etc.) for the project have been completed and the township planning department as well as the Cataraqui Conservation Authority have expressed support for the project, provided certain conditions are met. The average lot size is 5 acres and water-frontage is over 300 feet for all of the waterfront lots.

However, since some of the lots are near provincially significant wetlands, and Loughborough Lake is already highly populated, a number of members of the public would like to comment on the proposal. An official public meeting has already been held on the proposal, in October of 2014, but that was before the old council.

A subsequent public session has been scheduled for March 2, starting at 6 p.m. At 6:30 Council will convene and listen to presentations from members of the public about the proposal.

Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCS)

David Townsend made his annual presentation to Council on behalf of SFCS. He talked of the agency's commitment to serving the elderly and those with financial challenges in the township, and reported that in 2014 SFCS was able to run a modest surplus ($4,500) out of a budget that for the first time topped $1 million.

Townsend said that SFCS would like to build an addition to their headquarters at the Grace Centre on Stagecoach Road, but that they need to get themselves formally aligned with the Ministry of Health in order to access provincial dollars. Townsend concluded by saying that increasing numbers of South Frontenac residents are accessing their programs and they need continued public support to be able to afford to meet the demand.

Fire hall occupied, but not technically ready

Over the Christmas holidays, fire crews have been readying the long anticipated new fire hall in Northbrook for use. The hall, which will serve the joint Kaladar/Barrie Fire Department, is mostly complete, Fire Chief Casey Cuddy told Addington Highlands Council at their meeting on Monday (January 5).

“The builders have some more work to do, but they did tell me it was substantially complete. Some of the guys built some benches over the holidays, stuff like that, and we have moved the trucks over. There are only a few things left in the old hall to move over,” Cuddy said. “Just before New Year's the crews were able to wash the hoses and dry them indoors on the racks in the new hall, something they could not do in the smaller old hall.”

“The concern I have is that we do not know whose hall it is right now,” said Councilor Bill Cox. “Is it the construction company’s hall? Is it our hall? Do we have any paperwork turning it over to us?”

Clerk Christine Reed said she has not received anything in writing or verbally from the construction company or from Jewell Engineering, who is overseeing the project for the township.

“Have you received anything in writing, turning it over to us or even saying it is substantially complete?” Cox asked Casey Cuddy.

“Nothing in writing; they just told me it was substantially complete,” he replied.

Reeve Henry Hogg said he would call Jewell Engineering to see if the building can be turned over to the township and to ensure that all the remaining work the construction company is supposed to do is in fact completed. Until then, plans to completely empty the old hall, disconnect the water and stop heating the building have been put on hold. A formal opening for the new hall will likely take place in the spring.

“We also need a sign for the hall,” said Bill Cox.

Cuddy said he would order one.

“It should say Addington Highlands Township, Kaladar-Barrie Fire Department, Northbook Hall, something like that,” said Cox.

Township supports grant application for transportation

Susan Andrew-Allan and Marlene Dacuk, from Land O'Lakes Community Services, (LOLCS) brought information about a grant program from the Ministry of Transportation to support pilot projects for community based transportation services. Using volunteer drivers, LOLCS has been running a program for township residents to access medical and other appointments in places such as Napanee and Kingston. Recently the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), which funds the Community Support Programs for seniors that LOLCS runs, informed them that they no longer could use LHIN's funding to support transportation for people under 60 years of age.

“The MTO grant program is for up to $100,000 per county, and I don't know if anyone is applying to serve other parts of Lennox and Addington,” said Susan Andrew-Allan, “but if possible we would like to fund a part-time dispatcher to work two or three days a week.”

“The township would not be running the program, would it?” asked Councilor Tony Fritsch.

“No, we would run it, the township would only have to handle the money,” said Andrew-Allan.

Council agreed in principle to support the project and Andrew-Allan said she would work on the application and come back to Council at their next meeting on January 19 in Denbigh to finalize it, as it is due at the end of January.

$2,000 request from NAEC Outdoor Learning Centre

Sarah Sproule, a teacher at North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne, gave her annual update on the facilities and programs that NAEC is offering at their Outdoor Learning Centre, which has been supported over the years by the township and a number of community groups.

Canoeing, camping, snowshoeing, archery and other activities are offered through the center, which makes use of the extensive acreage that is owned by NAEC behind the building on Hwy. 41 as well as at Bon Echo Park and other off-school locations.

Sproule said that among plans for 2015 are the purchase of more show shoes as well as participation in the first annual National Archery in the Schools Program competition, which takes place in April.

In the past the township has supported the Outdoor Centre with a $1,000 donation each year, but pointing out that they received $2,000 from North Frontenac Township last year, in addition to support from the Conservationists of Frontenac-Addington, and the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Sproule said, “The request is for $2,000; but of course we will take whatever you are able to give us.”

Council accepted Sproule's presentation and deferred the funding request to their budget process, which will be completed in early May.

MVCA increase easy to handle

The Mississippi Valley Conservation Association (MVCA) receives funding from its members based on population, which means that the increase of just under 2% in 2015 translates into $75 from Addington Highlands, which will be paying $4,109 this year. That's a far cry from the MVCA’s levy to the City of Ottawa, which is up by over $90,000 to a total of $2.3 million.

At the inaugural meeting of the new Frontenac County Council, Frontenac Islands mayor, Dennis Doyle, took on the job of warden for 2015, the first year of a new four-year term. The meeting took place on December 17, the day after the last 2014 edition of the Frontenac News went to press.

The ceremonial first meeting, which was attended by Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington MP Scott Reid and MPP Randy Hillier, MP Ted Hsu from Kingston and the Islands, and newly elected Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson, took place in the comfortable confines of the newly refurbished Rotary Club Fairmount Home auditorium, which is located on the same property as the Frontenac County Administrative Office.

Doyle, the only returning mayor in the County, was acclaimed to the post of warden, and Central Frontenac mayor, Frances Smith, herself a former warden from pre-amalgamation days, was also acclaimed to the post of deputy warden. It is expected that she will be the warden in 2016.

The process of choosing the warden this time around was reminiscent of the clubby atmosphere that prevailed among members of council before the increase to eight members in the most recent term of Council. Unlike in other counties, only the mayors from the four townships can become the warden. The second representatives from each township are not eligible.

Warden Doyle has been the acting warden since the death of the sitting warden, Bud Clayton, in September. After the election of officers, Doyle spoke. He urged his fellow councilors to “provide thoughtful instructions to staff, making sure every dollar we spend of our constituents’ money is used very well. We have to build a sustainable and resilient community to put up with whatever comes, including whatever the feds or the province download to us.”

He also said that he expects the new council will set a cordial tone in their dealings with each other and county staff.

“Let's be civil in these chambers. We must be respectful of staff, must respect the other levels of government. Finally we must have respect for the political process itself,” he said.

He stressed the three specific goals that were identified in the Strategic Plan that council completed last year.

“The plan calls for us to prepare for the ageing tsunami of seniors, address waste management going forward by seeking a regional solution with our partners from the City of Kingston and the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, and look at other means of revenue through economic development. Once we have these three underway we can look at a fourth, but we found that the more items we try to address at once the less successful we were at any of them,” he said.

In response to Doyle's remarks, MP Ted Hsu said he was impressed by the specific nature of the goals identified by Dennis Doyle.

“We hear from a lot of experts in Ottawa and a lot about process and planning, but there is nothing that gives me more confidence than someone who knows what they want to accomplish in their own community ... this council has a good idea of what needs to be done, and we're in good hands,” he said.

MP Scott Reid talked about the changes in riding boundaries that are coming, and said he was happy to work with the county to create the new Frontenac Lanark riding that will be in place for the federal election next fall.

MPP Randy Hillier said, “It's a pleasure to be here welcoming the new council. Thanks and congratulations to Dennis and Fran. This term of council is a wonderful opportunity to really shine through co-operation and collaboration. A bit of harmony will also help us look forward when the province throws some curveballs at you. I don't mind helping you throw some back.”

Council also made appointments to various boards. Dennis Doyle will sit on the KFL&A Public Health Board for four years; John Inglis remains on the Municipal Advisory Committee for the Algonquin Land Claim for a second four years; Natalie Nossal will sit on the Youth Advisory Committee; Frances Smith on the Kingston Frontenac Housing Board; and John McDougall on the Rideau Corridor Parkland Board.

South Frontenac mayor, Ron Vandewal, will be the county rep on the Kingston Frontenac Library Board.

In the only contested selection, there were three candidates for two positions as public appointees to the Library Board. John Purdon received the most votes and there was a tie between Ann Peace-Fast and Wilma Kenny (the current vice-chair of the Board). By lot, Anne Peace-Fast was chosen as the second public appointee.  

Perry returned as North Frontenac Deputy Mayor

The first item of business for North Frontenac Council this week, once the ceremonial swearing in was taken care of, was to choose a deputy mayor from among the six men who were elected to Council along with Mayor Ron Higgins. Fred Perry was the first one nominated, by Wayne Good. The nomination was seconded by Micky Hermer. Gerry Martin was also nominated, by Denis Bedard, seconded by John Inglis.

The way the voting was handled was to make a motion in favour of the first nominee, Fred Perry, and if that motion were defeated a motion in favour of Gerry Martin would have been brought forward. That ended up not being necessary. Three hands were raised in favour of Fred Perry, those of Wayne Good, Micky Hermer and Perry himself, and by declaring the motion passed Mayor Higgins indicated that he was voting the same way.

Perry not only served as deputy mayor for the last four years, he was also the acting mayor ever since the death of former mayor, Bud Clayton, in early September.

Councilors' salaries frozen for 2015

The consumer price index for October indicated a year over year increase in the cost of living of 2.4%, and in line with township policy a proposal was made to increase the total amount paid to township staff by that amount. In North Frontenac the total increase is calculated and then divided by the number of employees, who then all receive the same increase. This differs from the way COLA (Cost of Living Adjustments) are normally paid out in institutional settings. Normally each employee receives the same percentage increase, so the dollar value of the increase is greater for the higher paid employees. In North Frontenac the increase is averaged so that every employee receives the same salary dollar value increase.

“As Bud Clayton used to explain it,” said Chief Administrative Officer Cheryl Robson, “a loaf of bread costs the same for me, the highest paid township employee, as it does the lowest paid township employee, and since the increase is all about the cost of living increase, that's the key issue.”

Members of Council, however, will not share in the increase. Councilor Inglis produced a table he has put together, which shows that North Frontenac Council members receive more pay than those in neighbouring townships. The remuneration for a council member in North Frontenac is $15,067 per year. In Lanark Highlands they receive $12,225; in Central Frontenac $12,557; and in Addington Highlands $12,504.

“The question is,” Inglis said “do we want to remain at the top of the heap by taking what would be about a $500 raise for each of us next year?”

Even though Inglis' chart included mileage payments that are made in other townships as part of his calculations, Councilor Wayne Good said there were other payments that Inglis did not include.

“This chart does not compare apples to apples,” he said. “The mileage is not accurate, but I still support freezing our salaries next year.”

Mayor Higgins said that with the township facing budget challenges and “looking at increases in 2015 to deal with policing and other costs, we might well consider sending a message of restraint in terms of our own pay.

Council agreed to increase staff salaries but freeze the pay for council members. The deputy mayor received $18,746 in 2014, and the mayor $22,425. Those who sit on County Council receive another $5,000 and mileage to county functions. Council also decided to keep the mileage rate at 48 cents per kilometre in 2015.

Building blues

The township office has been re-opened and is now fully occupied by administrative staff for the first time since it was hit with an oil leak last February, but the celebrations have been short-lived.

Even before the leak happened, Council was looking at the long term viability of the building, a process that was halted by the leak and the damage it caused. In order for the insurance company to cover the repairs, the building has been bought back to the state it was in before the accident.

Now that the staff has moved back in, an immediate problem has surfaced. A long-standing issue with water and either mildew or mold damage on the exterior wall to two offices has gotten worse. A staff report recommended a stop gap measure for health and safety reasons to replace half the wall and insulate.

Council discussed the issue, and whether it pays to put any more money into a building that might not be viable in the medium term. They decided to replace the entire wall and use foam insulation for the immediate fix.

A report from the consulting engineering company Greer Galloway estimated the cost of bringing the building up to standard for long-term use as a township office at nearly $1.9 million

One of the issues that will be high on the agenda when the new council looks at its long term objectives in the new year will be the future of the township's administrative offices.

A bit of good news

The township will be receiving $89,000 per year for at least three years under the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund. The money is targeted at replacing or repairing ageing infrastructure in rural Ontario.

Busy time ahead

Council will meet again on January 6 for a special meeting devoted to strategic planning, forming committees and preparing for the budget process. More meetings are already scheduled for later in January.

Common Element Lanes in Subdivisions

A public meeting was held on the subject of amending the Official Plan to permit roads within subdivisions to be designated common elements, to be maintained by residents as a condominium feature, in relation to the Magenta waterfront development. Several residents expressed concern: Peter Roos asked, “How will this benefit the township?” Developer Mike Keene spoke in favour of the change, saying that most cottage roads in Haliburton and Muskoka were being zoned this way.

Planner Mills said there were concerns about long-term effects of this sort of zoning, and that he would like to have a lawyer’s opinion. Although the report will go to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, any final decision on the matter will rest with the township.

Term appointments to Township Committees

Deputy Mayor McDougall brought a motion that all future volunteer appointments to township committees should be limited to two terms, or eight years, in order to bring in more volunteers, and fresh ideas. This was passed.

Massive Staff Report Requested

Councillor Schjerning brought a notice of motion that requests “a comprehensive report outlining areas where the township is not in compliance with all applicable federal or provincial statutory requirements.” This motion asks that such a report include full details on any areas of non-compliance, to include what is required to become compliant, how much time and expense would be required, and potential liability of non-compliance. This would address 19 acts and their regulations, as well as all township bylaws. The motion asked that this report be completed by February 1, a week before Council’s all-day budget session. In speaking to the motion, Schjerning said he was in no way criticizing the work of previous councils, but that this information would assist the current council in their strategic planning and budgeting.

In response, CAO Orr said that although there was no question that the municipality was not in 100% compliance with every bylaw, piece of legislation and regulation, they are also limited in staff and fiscal resources, and by the need to maintain service delivery. He suggested the end of March would be a more realistic deadline.

Councillor Revill said, “My impression is that our township’s in pretty good shape, particularly in terms of complying with regulatory matters: I’d prefer we give staff the time needed (to do this report).”

Councillor Sutherland said, “This looks like an impossible task; [we’re talking about] a hugely complicated set of acts and by-laws. This is a relatively complex township. I’d prefer something that hits on any major areas where we’re out of sync. Also, this is a moving target: I’d just ask for a ‘best effort’.”

Deputy Mayor McDougall suggested that perhaps this was something council could address as a group, two or three topics at a time, as a form of in-service training. Schjerning said he did not want to see this process postponed to next year’s budget.

Mayor Vandewal said staff should be given six months: “This is way too onerous to ask, particularly when budget planning is being done late, because this has been an election year.”

In the end, the motion was amended to permit a March 31 deadline for the report, and passed.

Winter Roads Maintenance

Councillor Schjerning brought forward a motion that all township roads with full-time residents should be identified and provided full winter maintenance for the 2014/15 winter season.

Several councillors objected, on the grounds that this process is already underway, and in the hands of the Public Service Committee. McDougall said staff had been working on this for two years, and it was a complicated issue. Wayne Orr noted that the township has no standard to define permanent residency. Councillor Roberts said he was not comfortable with agreeing to a project with an unknown cost. Mayor Vandewal said that the motion seemed premature. The motion was deferred.

Johnson/Loughborough Lake

Staff is preparing a report for the new council on the history of the Johnson/Loughborough Lake condo application, which will be available well before an open public session is set up.

Energy Conservation/Municipal Loan Program

Council agreed with Councillor Sutherland’s motion that more information be provided about this loan program. McDougall said the County has one prepared, and will be available to present it.

Public Works Reports

Public Works Manager Segsworth reported that the township’s program to provide upgrading assistance to private lanes, now in its seventh year, has been very successful, with 24 lanes submitting applications last year. He recommends consideration be given to increasing the amount available for the program in next year’s budget.

Council accepted Segsworth’s recommendation that Kingston Utilities’ contract for maintenance of the Sydenham Water Plant be extended to the end of 2015.

Holiday Hours

SF Township office will be closed in the week between Christmas and New Year, re-opening on Friday January 2.

Council Sets Goal of 2%-2.5% Increase for 2015 Budget

In recent years South Frontenac has held budget deliberations throughout November and by this time of year, would have had the Township portion of the budget (excluding County and Education levies) pretty well thrashed out. The election has necessitated this process be moved to the new year.

CAO Orr brought a general summary of major budget issues facing Council, and requested their direction in setting a target increase in the Township’s levy for 2015. Orr’s report pointed out that although Council in the past few years has increased investment in capital projects and service delivery, decreases in Education and County levies have resulted in an overall decrease in property taxes for the average taxpayer since 2011.

On the other hand, The Township faces increased OPP costs, a 1% staff wage increase commitment, and a reduction in Kingston’s contribution to upkeep of arterial roads.There are also commitments to maintain deteriorating infrastructure and buildings, meet Provincial/regulatory pressures, meet expectations for increased services in snow clearing of roads and sidewalks, enhanced weed control, facilities and solid waste, etc. All this must be balanced against political pressure to control costs and maintain taxes.

Orr asked Council to provide direction to guide staff in the development of the 2015 preliminary capital and operating budgets. Based on Council’s direction staff will prepare a draft budget, assess impacts, review alternatives and present the details to Council for their budget meetings which will begin in mid-January. Goal is to achieve budget approval by March 3.

Council was in general agreement that an increase in the Township levy of 2% to 2.5% would be acceptable.

Proposed Official Plan Amendment

Planner Lindsay Mills presented background information on a proposed Official Plan amendment which would permit the creation of a subdivision with freehold (ie, not condominium) lots to be located on a private lane which will be commonly maintained, as in a condominium development. Mills said that this would avoid the maintenance issues now common to shared private lanes, without requiring the Township to assume the road once the subdivision is complete. The province is now requiring that any new lanes created in Ontario be established as a common element in a condominium. (even though the lots they serve may be independently owned). This proposal will be brought to a public meeting at next week’s Council meeting, Dec 16.

New Sound System

Council directed staff to obtain and install an integrated sound system in the township hall which will make it easier for councillors, staff and the public to be able to hear the speakers during meetings.

Committee Structure and Procedural Bylaw Update

Considerable discussion accompanied these issues, which will be decided on at next week’s Council meeting.

New E-Newsletter on its Way

The Clerk’s Department is initiating a quarterly e-newsletter to provide updates from all departments, to include information about issues such as road construction projects, winter road maintenance, updates on the budget process, changes to garbage and recycling schedules, etc. The first edition will be available through the Township’s website in January 2015.

Councilors get computers; mayor a phone plan

One of the first decisions Central Frontenac Council made at their first regular meeting on Tuesday afternoon (December 9) was to give themselves a $600 (tax included) computer budget. With that money, each councilor can purchase a laptop computer or tablet to read council agendas and other documents in advance of and at meetings. The move is consistent with the paperless council meetings policy of the township.

The cost of the plan will be $5,400 for the eight councilors and mayor. Councilors can access the money only by providing a receipt to the township for the purchase of the equipment, and only once during the four-year term of council.

According to a report by the IT department head Charlene Godfrey, the cost of printing paper agendas, including labour, comes to $1,500 per year or $6,000 per term of council, so providing the computers will result in a net cost savings for ratepayers. During the previous term of council, two of the nine members of council rejected e-agendas and received paper agendas before each meeting. There were no such requests from the new council.

As well, council agreed to pay $60 per month in usage fees for a cell phone that will be carried by Mayor Frances Smith so she can be contacted by voice, text, or email when necessary.

Speed limits in Sharbot Lake

In response to a request by Heather Highet, Principal of Granite Ridge Education Centre, for a school speed zone of 40 km per hour, interim Public Works Co-ordinator Kyle Labbett brought forward a proposal to Council. Labbett pointed out that the Ministry of Transportation advises against changes in speed zones of more than 20 km/hr. Therefore he proposed that the speed limit on Road 38 between Highway 7 and 150 metres north of the school be cut to 60 km/hr, and then set at 40 km/hr from that point south to the entrance to the Maples Restaurant and Sharbot Lake Family Health Team, where it would go back up to 60km/hr.

“I can't agree with 40 km per hour all the way through town,” said Councillor Tom Dewey, “I would like to see the 40 km zone in place near the school from 7:30 in the morning to 5:30 at night on school days, and a higher limit other than that.”

“I agree with Tom,” said Councilor Jamie Riddell.

“I can understand what Tom is saying, but I'm worried about confusion with different limits at different times,” said Councilor Sherry Whan.

“This is getting a lot more complicated than I thought,” said Labbett.

“I would entertain a motion to defer this,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “We need to look at our options with the school, the OPP, etc.”

The matter was deferred

Bridge over trail to be levelled if grant is forthcoming

Council approved a proposal by Kyle Labbett to choose the option of eliminating the bridge on Road 38 over the former CP Rail line (now part of the Trans-Canada Trail)

The bridge is in need of repairs and while it is more expensive to remove the bridge and bring the road down to grade with a level crossing over the trail, at a cost of $1.7 million, the decision needed to be made in time to apply for an Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund grant, the deadline being December 19.

Most of the people who attended a public meeting on November 20 supported another option, replacing the bridge with a box culvert in order to allow trail users to still travel under the roadway, but the long-term maintenance costs of that option and the relatively low level of risk of a level crossing for trail users led Labbett to recommend eliminating the bridge completely.

Council agreed to the proposal; however the project will only proceed if the grant is forthcoming.

“If we don't get the grant this all goes away,” said Labbett.

2014 a down year for construction

As of the end of November, permits had been issued for $4.66 million worth of residential construction in the township in 2014, almost a million below the amount after 11 months in 2013 ($5.62 million). In 2014, construction on 14 new residential units got underway, as opposed to 17 in 2013, and 26 in 2012.

Ad Hoc Committees – At the request of interim Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Steve Silver, Council set up an Ad Hoc committee to deal with the hiring of a new full time CAO and a head of the public works department. Silver, who has a background in human resources, will be a resource to the committee, which will include Mayor Smith as well as Councilors Bill MacDonald, Tom Dewey and Victor Heese.

A second committee, which will look at the future of the former Hinchinbrooke school and property, will include Mayor Smith and Councilors Phillip Smith, Brent Cameron and Sherry Whan as well as two members of the committee seeking to turn the building into a community centre.

Building window found on small Garrison Shores lot

All of the lots in the Garisons Shores development, near Arden, were placed in a holding zone when the development was approved as a vacant land condominium two years ago after existing in legislative limbo for almost 30 years.

The holding zone meant that no further construction could be done on any of the small (.1 hectare) lots.

Township planner Peter Young from Frontenac County appeared before Council with a recommendation that in the case of one particular lot, the holding zone can be lifted. Kingston Frontenac Public Health has approved a septic system for the lot, which is one of the key conditions for lifting the holding zone. A proposed expansion of an existing 600 square foot cottage on the lot to 900 square feet may be permitted, provided a number of other conditions and a site plan approval process can be completed.