Feature article, March 17, 2005

Feature article March 17 2005

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Washroom project runs into Federal red tape Central Frontenac Council, March 14, 2005

by Jeff Green

Its been 18 months since a fundraising campaign was initiated to upgrade the Sharbot Lake beach by putting in a new washroom with flush toilets. About $12,000 has been raised for the project through a series of community fundraising initiatives, and the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (FCFDC) was approached as well for financial support. An application was submitted to the Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund and has been approved for $15,000. But Industry Canada, the Federal Department behind the funding, has developed cold feet over the project.

Last week, they contacted Ian Trickett, the township building officer and somewhat reluctant project manager for the washrooms, and sent him a form to fill out.

The form is designed to help them decide if an Environmental Impact Study is required before the project can go ahead, Trickett said last week, as he was preparing to fill it out. Trickett submitted the form on Friday, and on Monday, Industry Canada again contacted him and asked for further information. In the meantime, the $15,000 has not been released, and Trickett found out late on Monday that the deadline for spending the money, which was to have been the end of March or the end of April at the latest, has been extended indefinitely.

The delays are welcome by the township to a certain extent, because the project is anything but ready to go forward. The building has not yet been designed, and it is impossible to move forward on septic permits until the ground is thawed and test holes can be dug.

At their meeting on Monday night, Central Frontenac councillors debated various options for the building design. Some councillors favoured using concrete blocks and parging for the building, and others would prefer putting cedar siding over the outside of the building. Trickett said he would prepare costing for both options.

The possibility of heating the building and keeping the washrooms open year round was also raised, and a costing on that option, including the increased maintenance costs, will also be brought forward by Ian Trickett when he reports back to Council with a design proposal.

The township is still hoping to move forward on this project in 2005, but if Industry Canada demands an Environmental Assessment before releasing the $15,000 the entire process could be slowed down considerably.

Trickett said that he has had a preliminary look at the site and is confident a washroom and an adequate septic bed can be put in place in conformity with the townships comprehensive zoning bylaw.Deputy Mayors job opened up

Central Frontenac Council has decided to reverse a stipulation that has been in place since amalgamation in 1998, which required that the Deputy Mayors position be filled by a councillor elected from a district other than that of the Mayor.

I think it was put there because of mistrust, said Councillor Frances Smith. As long as it is there, we still have mistrust.

Councillor Bill Snyder disagreed. He said that the district the Mayor comes from already has three people on Council instead of two; to have the deputy mayor as well starts to look like stacking the deck.

Deputy Mayor Faye Putnam didnt support the change either, but said, Im under the understanding that we dont need to have a Deputy Mayor. I would be in favour of eliminating the Deputy Mayor altogether.

Putnam was making reference to the fact that he Deputy Mayors position has been largely ceremonial in Central Frontenac since amalgamation. She has been Deputy Mayor since the beginning of this term 15 months ago, and has not yet been called on to replace the Mayor at a meeting.

Since amalgamation, the practice in Central Frontenac has been to elect a Deputy Mayor at the beginning of each three-year term, and maintain that person throughout the term. In 1998, Lloyd Lee from Hinchinbrooke District was elected. In 2001, Jack Nicolson from Kennebec was elected, and Faye Putnam from Olden District was elected in 2004. Mayor Bill MacDonald has been in place all that time, and he is a resident of Oso District.

Logan Murray said he thought the Deputy Mayors job should be rotated on an annual basis to councillors from a different District each year.

Other ideas about the future role of the Deputy Mayor were discussed, but in the end it was time to vote on the resolution as it was presented. In a recorded vote, Logan Murray, Faye Putnam, and Bill Snyder voted against the change. The remaining five Councillors and the Mayor voted for it, and from now on the Deputy Mayor will be elected from all of Council, regardless of which district elected them.

Citing MPAC position, Central Frontenac refuses to share mapping data

After receiving a letter from Bev Disney of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, Central Frontenac has refused to provide digital mapping of property boundaries to the Greater Bobs and Crow Lake Association as requested.

The Association was hoping to use the information to augment the mapping service they provide for their members as they continue to work on an ambitious lake plan.

In her letter Disney wrote: The Municipality is free to utilize the digital file for its own internal purposes, including providing the data to contractors, while performing work for the municipality, under conditions of non-disclosure and non-retention once the contract is completed. External distribution or resale of the data derived from the assessment mapping is not permitted by the municipality.

Making specific reference to the Bobs and Crow Lake Association, Disney wrote, Although the Bobs and Crow Lake Association has made a distinction in that they are only interested in obtaining the MPAC boundary line data, excluding any other MPAC data, it is MPACs position that the Municipality cannot provide the aforementioned Association with the requested information.

Most of the members of the Bobs and Crow Lake Association live in South Frontenac, and South Frontenac Council has made the mapping information available through an agreement with the Frontenac Environmental Partnership, which counts the Bobs and Crow Lake Association as a member. In fact similar kinds of mapping has been made available for public access through agreements in North Frontenac and Tay Valley, and property boundary mapping is publicly accessible through the world-wide web in the town of Perth, as well as on the websites of Ottawa and Toronto.

When contacted, Bev Disney said those other jurisdictions could have different contractual arrangements with MPAC, but that the license agreement completed between MPAC and Central Frontenac on August 9, 1999, stipulates that the information cannot be made public. She described the agreement with Central Frontenac as a standard agreement for our hard copy maps. Central Frontenac undertook to digitise the hard copy mapping provided to them by MMPAC.

Even with the unequivocal opinion of Bev Disney being received by Council, two councillors, namely Logan Murray and Janet Gutowski, still wanted to release the mapping data.

Logan Murray said MPAC has already gone to court and been told they cannot restrict the data. Its stupid beyond belief that an agency of government would not release information that can be used to promote water quality, community planning, and more.

Councillor Gutowski pointed to Tay Valley, which has entered into a contract in order to release the information. We could do the same thing here.

In the end, Council took Disneys advice to heart and voted to refuse the request of the Bobs and Crow Lake Association, as they had done previously to a similar request from the Frontenac Environmental Partnership.

Other items from Council

Council less than enthused over $20,000 grant

A $20,000 Commercial/Industrial Property Study, to be funded by the Eastern Ontario Development fund, was brought before Council for their approval. The grant came about as the result of an application that was made by the Central Frontenac Economic Development Committee, but it is really a joint venture with the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (FCFDC). It was pointed out in the application form for the grant that Frontenac CFDC staff have received numerous enquiries regarding available manufacturing space from companies to expand into the County, primarily in South Frontenac. Unfortunately no properties have been available to accommodate this. The purpose of this project is to make a business case for a developer to invest in building a manufacturing facility. In addition it will look at the feasibility of an office suite concept in Central Frontenac.

Councillor Bill Guigue led the council charge against the study. I think this is a total waste of money, he said. Even though it is not funded from our budget, it is still being funded with tax money, and I am opposed to it. Its a make work project for consultants.

Other councillors pointed out that studies have been done in the past, and manufacturing has not come about as a result.

I agree that some of this information is available, said Mayor Bill MacDonald. I think if you say something is never going to happen, it wont happen. This would be part and parcel of any future strategic planning for our community.

In the end Council voted to accept the grant in a 6-3 split vote.

New Roads Committee date set - The inaugural meeting of the Central Frontenac Roads Committee had been set for March 16, but Clerk Administrator Heather Fox reported to Council that the meeting had been set at a late date and there was no time to publicize it. It was decided that the meeting should be put off until Wednesday, April 6 at 7:00 in Mountain Grove at the Olden Hall.

Feature article, March 3, 2005

Feature article March 3, 2005

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North Frontenac Council Feb 24, 2005County Strategic Plan

by Jeff Green

(Editors note: Since the discussion of this item at North Frontenac Council, Frontenac County Council has told staff to put a hold on the Strategic Planning process, pay Jim Slavin for what he has thus far done and put whatever money can be recouped from the original $40,000 that was allocated to into a reserve fund, with a view towads completing a stregic plan for the County ambulance service and the Fairmount Home exclusively. There will be more on this in the next issue of the Frotnenac News, and the Newsweb will be updated accordingly next week.)

Jim Slavin, a consultant from Renfrew who works for a firm called the Delfi Group, paid a visit to North Frontenac Council last week as part of Phase 1 of a Strategic Planning Process he has been contracted to facilitate for the County of Frontenac.

In introducing himself to Council, Slavin said I am not a guru of municipal governance, I am a facilitator. He also said he wanted the County of Frontenac Strategic Plan to avoid what he called the Vinyl Trophy Syndrome, which he explained by citing the example of a hugely expensive 8 inch thick report in the North West Territories that is now being used, literally, as a doorstop.

Up until just under two years ago, the County of Frontenac was known as the Frontenac Management Board. While other counties governments in Ontario had remained intact after municipal amalgamation in 1998, in the case of Frontenac it was decided to maintain a stripped-down structure to act as the upper tier government for four rural townships: North, Central and South Frontenac and the Township of the Frontenac Islands. Two years ago, the Frontenac Management Board became the County of Frontenac.

The County manages the Fairmount Home for the Aged, the Frontenac County Ambulance Service, has a small Economic Development Department, and has extensive dealings with the City of Kingston over shared services, the responsibility for which were downloaded to Kingston from the provincial government.

As part of the Strategic Planning process, Jim Slavin is establishing six priority area tables to determine the strengths and weaknesses of County services in these areas, develop a Vision Statement for the future, and prioritise critical success factors for achieving that vision. The six tables include: Transportation, Administration, Healthy Community, Social Network, Business and Economic Development, and Environmental Well-being.

County staff will be integrally involved in the process, but Slavin came to North Frontenac Council to see if other volunteers could be found who could broaden out the process.

Mayor Ron Maguire referred to one of the difficulties in Township/County relations when he asked Jim Slavin How does a County Strategic Plan have a kind of relevance to each of the townships?

My sense is, Slavin responded, that some issues, such as the water testing issue, for example, are universal.

The County is so vast and diverse, Councillor Betty Hunter said, we dont have phone lines to all of our residents, for example, when closer to the City they are looking at attracting factories. How can one strategic plan address all that difference?

Jim Slavin encouraged Township Staff and Councillors to join the various tables if they could find the time, in that way putting North Frontenacs concerns forward. He described the time commitment as about 10 hours.

Councillors asked if all meetings would be held at the County office, which is located about 90 minutes away for most residents of North Frontenac. Slavin said it might be possible to hold some meetings at more northern locations.

Jim Slavin thanked Council for their time, commenting that he liked the informality of North Frontenac Council.

The Strategic Planning Process had a bit of a rough ride politically earlier in the month.

On February 15, Jim Slavin made a presentation to South Frontenac Council. At that time, South Frontenac Mayor Bill Lake expressed doubt that the strategic planning contract had formally been awarded.

At a County Budget meeting on the next day, the possibility of cancelling the strategic planning process as a cost savings measure was brought forward by Mayor Bill Lake. Lake was informed that the contract had already been awarded to the Delfi group.

As well, County Chief Administrative Officer Elizabeth Fulton said that Fairmount Home and the County Ambulance service were each required, by the Provincial Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, to carry out strategic planning processes this year, and if those were undertaken on their own they would probably cost just as much as the County wide process was going to cost. The money for the process, $40,000, had been allocated in the 2004 County budget and has been carried over to the 2005 budget year.

The Strategic plan is slated for completion by the end of May.

Other items from NF Council

Green Enabling fund application:

An application to a Provincial Green Enabling fund for support in conducting a feasibility study into thermal waste disposal (incineration), a joint venture between North Frontenac and Addington Highlands was filed in November by former County of Frontenac Economic Development Officer Karen Fischer. Council has learned from current Economic Development Officer Dianna Bratina that the application has come back with a request to provide some more information. This was referred to the Waste Management Committee for action.

Task Force on Municipal Halls

In a short written report, Councillor Bud Clayton requested more time to complete the task of seeking public input and preparing a report by February 2005 on the disposition of the Halls. In requesting more time, Clayton wrote, This has developed into an extremely sensitive situation that will take more time.

Clayton told Council he has held meetings in all five Halls and each community has appointed a person or persons to sit on the Task Force. Once again he repeated, There are no plans to close the Halls.

The Task Force was granted 90 more days to complete its work.

Feature article, March 3, 2005

Feature article March 3, 2005

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Strike fears abate, ratification vote set for March 7.Memorandum of Understanding reached in South Frontenac Labour disputeby Jeff Green

After a 7 hour meeting between senior township staff and the executive of CUPE local 4336, which represents 33 South Frontenac Township employees, a tentative agreement was reached, said local 4336 President Trevor Greene.

The tentative agreement came about one day before a strike deadline. It is subject to approval by the Council of South Frontenac, who discussed the issue at an in camera meeting early Tuesday evening, and a ratification vote by union members scheduled for Monday, March 7.

The main issue that separated the two sides as of last weekend was the status of part-time employees. Were pretty good on all the other issues, Trevor Greene told the News last weekend, but there are five workers who work full time, year round, and have been working for up to five years, that receive no benefits. For us its an issue of fairness.

Neither side was revealing any details of the agreement that was reached on Monday.

The Memorandum of Understanding was considered by South Frontenac Council in a closed session prior to their regular meeting on Tuesday night. After the closed session, Council agreed to refer the Memorandum of Understanding to the members of CUPE local 4336 for their ratification vote on March 7.

Earlier on Tuesday, South Frontenac CAO Gord Burns had said it was possible Council could request further information from the union, so the decision to refer the memorandum directly to a vote by the union means the agreement has cleared one of two major hurdles and a strike is thus less likely.

The major effect of a work stoppage would be on road maintenance throughout the township and on garbage pickup in Portland district. The operations of the township office in Sydenham would be affected as well.

In case of a strike, we have tried to make contingencies for the major roads, but in the event of a large snowfall or freezing rain we would have to look at some further action. But thats not our focus right now, Burns said, adding, We are very hopeful of an amicable resolution to the process.

Notes from SF Council meeting: Tuesday, March 1, 2005

Mitchell Creek Bridge: the Ottawa Solution

In a classic example of using a sledgehammer to crack an acorn, Transport Canadas Navigable Waters Protection Program has ruled that the disintegrating Mitchell Creek Bridge must be replaced by a higher structure with vertical navigation clearance of 1.5m from the average June water level, to facilitate boat traffic. In doing so, they seem to have ignored all concerns about environmental impact or increased traffic in a fragile waterway. (Mitchell Creek is a loon nesting area connecting Desert Lake to Birch and Devil Lakes. Both of these lakes border Frontenac Wilderness Park, which forbids any use of motors within its boundaries.) The present, much lower clearance of the bridge, allows canoes and small motorboats access to the creek and the lakes beyond. Council and local residents feel this is adequate, and presents the most affordable solution. They have agreed to pursue various routes of political appeal in the next few weeks.

Sydenham Water: New Tender Bids, Old Questions

David Waugh addressed Council on behalf of the Sydenham Safe Water Association. Using the March 1st low tender bid of $7,674,000, Waugh demonstrated a means of creating a projected total project budget based on the figures presently available. He offered his services free of charge to the township, if they wished help to draw up a similar, but official overall budget.

He asked for a household exemption policy to be established, which would take into consideration distance and elevation from the road, as well as soil and rock conditions.

The SSWA is also requesting a public information meeting (it has been two years since the last one) now that the new tender bids are in.

Councillor Davison contested Waughs use of the figure of $7,674,00, because it had included GST, which will not be charged. "If you start with skewed numbers," he said, "you will have problems at the end." Waugh replied that this was why he was offering to work with council: he needed their input to be able to draw up an accurate spreadsheet, which could be of benefit to both Council and villagers. Mayor Lake requested a written copy of Waughs presentation.

Councillor Robinson was present throughout: He later noted that he had come late to the last council meeting because of a personal commitment, not because he was avoiding the water issue.

Fireworks

A proposed by-law to regulate the sale and use of fireworks was tabled pending discussion with the fire chief, and some opportunity for public input.

Private Drainage into the Road System

Council adopted a new policy restricting the private use of the road system for property drainage. Details are available at the township hall.

New Member of the Order of Canada

Council agreed to extend their congratulations to Rod Fraser, retiring President of the University of Alberta, and long-time cottage owner on Clear Lake, Bedford. Dr Fraser has recently been awarded the Order of Canada.

Feature article,April 21, 2005

Feature article April 21, 2005

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Trailer bylaw comes under further fire in South Frontenacand notes from Council

by Jeff Green

A decision by South Frontenac Council to enforce a prohibition on trailers is still not sitting well with many of the 200 seasonal trailer owners in the township. Three of them addressed council on Tuesday night in Harrowsmith, in front of a capacity crowd of supporters.

Judy Reynolds, who has led the fight, addressed Council first. She claimed that the trailer prohibition bylaws that were passed in each of the four townships that have become South Frontenac, were for mobile homes and not for seasonal trailers. If they were meant for trailers, we would have been asked to move our trailer 27 years ago.

Her major point was that trailer owners have not been treated fairly and equally.

One of the main reasons cited in the decision by Council to enforce the prohibition against trailers is that trailers on lots only pay vacant lot taxes, whereas cottages pay residential taxes.

Judy Reynolds said people who have trailers on their properties would be willing to pay an extra fee.

We are not causing trouble, and we are not against paying some extra fees to cover for garbage pickup and road maintenance, if its reasonable, she said.

Jim Porter, who has spent summers at his trailer on Buck Lake since 1988, said, A $220 fee should cover the townships needs, and the township could enforce rules about the disposal of grey water, which is another concern that has been mentioned.

We are law abiding taxpayers, Porter concluded. We hurt no one. We want to be left alone to enjoy our trailers, the lake, and our summer.

Finally, Doug Griffin spoke. He was the angriest of the three people who addressed council. He explained that he and some friends purchased 275 acres with waterfront 17 years ago, and have placed trailers out of sight of the lake We have not touched a single tree in all that time; we have left the land as it was, and our plan is to turn the land into a park when we are no longer around. I have seven grandkids that have been raised out there. I dont think its right to tell us to leave.

Griffin vowed to carry the fight to the courts if he has to.

We are not going to let you get rid of our trailers.

Mayor Bill Lake, who has been receptive to the plight of trailer owners and voted against the decision to enforce the prohibition, told the assembled people to be patient, vowing to bring the matter to council later in he meeting. This left puzzled councillors looking to see if the trailer situation was listed in the evenings agenda.

I know its not on the agenda, Lake said, but Im going to put a question to Council later on, and depending on how it is answered we may be able to go half way with these people.

Bill Lakes question was brought up during the in camera session of the meeting. Township Chief Administrative Officer Gord Burns said it had to be discussed in camera because it was a matter of possible litigation. You saw those people tonight, he explained, there is every possibility they will start up law suits over this.

Other items from SF Council:

ATV complaints protocol

A report by township CAO Gord Burns outlined the protocol he intends to follow in monitoring complaints about the townships ATV bylaw during its probationary year.

Burns has written to Police Chief Glen Fowler, and asked the police to log complaints they receive by district, and include the nature of the complaint and any action they take in response to the log. Burns also recommends that complaints that are submitted to the township in writing be kept in a file for presentation to Council at an appropriate time.

I thought we agreed that we werent going to hear complaints, said Councillor Bill Robinson. Ive had people come to me and say Ive heard ATVs squeal their tires. Now how can an ATV squeal their tires? I thought we only wanted to know when a law has been broken.

I agree with Bill, said Councillor Gary Davison, if you accept every complaint, every phone call or email, youll get a build up of nuisance complaints.

Councillor Dave Hahn couldnt believe his ears.

Im hearing the township doesnt want to hear complaints. People have a right to lodge a complaint, he said.

Everyone has a right to complain, said Councillor Del Stowe. We should accept them all, so long as they are in writing, and we can look at them and decide if they are legitimate.

There was no motion attached to the protocol, which had only been presented to Council for information purposes, so the discussion ended.

Badour Estates A bylaw was approved to establish zoning for the lots in the Badour Estates project on Crow and Bobs Lake. Councillor Don Smith expressed concern about provisions for drawing water for fire crews in the proposed development, a matter which will be considered in the next two weeks, and then the project will move to the plan of subdivision stage which will eventually be brought before County Council.

Fire Services grant Council approved the expenditure of $22,500 for a provincially mandated incident management course, and $16,800 ($4,200 per district) for new bunker gear, thus allocating over half of the $70,000 provincial grant the township has recently received.

Letters,April 21, 2005

Letters April 21, 2005

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Re: On Death and Dying

The April 7 piece by Jule Koch Brison on the Terry Schiavo case (Days of Infamy and Horror) prompts me to write.

There is another perspective, I think, on the question of how we can treat those who are dying with compassion. Many of us would want our spouse to have the final say about our medical care when we could no longer speak for ourselves. Chances are Terri Schiavo wanted her husband to have that responsibility. The tragedy in her case appears to be the way in which his efforts to carry out such responsibility were thwarted for such a long time.

It sounds as though there is no circumstance in which the author believes a person should be allowed to die, but many would disagree and say that when a person suffers an injury from which they cant recover and in which only their body is being kept alive, that it is only their dying that is being prolonged, and that out of human kindness one would stop any artificial life support and allow the person to die.

There are worse things than dying.

- John Glassco

No confidence in South Frontenac council

It would serve Mayor Lake and South Frontenac councillors well to remind themselves of the system of government in place in Canada. Recent actions point to the fact that they are blissfully ignorant of it. The following meaning, taken from Merriam-Webster Online, clearly outlines what I understand to be that system.

democracy a: government by the people; especially rule of the majority b: a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people

Only in South Frontenac does a level of government move ahead in the face of 90% opposition from parties directly affected by their actions. I refer, of course, to the communal water system planned for the village of Sydenham.

On April 5, Mayor Lake and council awarded various contracts for the installation of this system, planned to start May 2005, at a cost of $7.7 million, $1.8 million of which will be borne by the 240 affected ratepayers. This cost does not include individual property hook-up costs. Taking this into consideration, the cost per ratepayer will range from $8,000 to over $25,000.

It is astonishing that in the face of such overwhelming opposition, council went ahead and approved a project that encumbers individual ratepayers with costs of this magnitude.

I appreciate that there are a handful of wells in the village with poor quality water. However, at no time in the two years since the introduction of the water system by-law has council been willing to explore alternative means to address this problem. Instead, they have repeatedly pointed to the recommendations of an aged and flawed report prepared by Totten Sims and Hubicki, consulting engineers. It is of interest that the same firm is now retained as project managers for system installation.

It is my view that Mayor Lake and members of South Frontenac council are simply out of their depth. Instead of conveying the rationale behind moving forward under such opposition, or engaging in any dialogue with the affected residents, they have simply stonewalled, or stated empty platitudes; any alternatives would require that they know, at least in part, what they are talking about.

It is shameful that this council has ignored the petitions of the people it purports to represent. It is shameful that such behavior is allowed to go unchecked. It is shameful that the residents of Sydenham will be encumbered with significant personal debt, as a result of a decision into which their input was ignored.

The way in which this council has ridden rough-shod over the residents of the village of Sydenham should be of concern to all residents of the Township. Today it is water in Sydenham; tomorrow it could be an issue that may affect each of you more directly.

The behaviour of this council is an embarrassment to the democratic process, but embarrassing behaviour at every level of government seems to be the order of the day. From Gomery to gormless, the state of all levels of government in Canada leaves much to be desired.

- A. Lamb

Thoughts on farming today

Eventually the current farm crisis will pass and with it perhaps many of this generations family farms. There is a major crisis happening in Canadian agriculture today and the mad cow epidemic is only a symptom of that event.

Canada long ago embraced a cheap food policy, choosing to depend upon low priced foreign imports for many of its needs, instead of encouraging a strong and diversified domestic industry. When was the last time anyone bought Canadian lamb, and can one even find potato salad that is made from Canadian produce?

As our food imports rose, our farm machinery and processing industries headed for the border and overseas. Proud Canadian companies, like Cockshutt and Massey Ferguson were either swallowed up by conglomerates or simply disappeared altogether. Most of our meat processing capacity is foreign owned or dependent upon cross border plants.

Will Canadian agriculture survive? Definitely in some form, be it large commercial factory farms with enough depth to deal with todays stringent regulations and guidelines, or perhaps small farms serving a distinctive and unique niche of a market unmet by commercial agriculture. Many of todays generation will simply quit and seek employment elsewhere, or given that the average age of todays farmer is in the mid 50s, perhaps move into semi- retirement before all their equity is used up in a sadly declining marketplace.

The real loser in all this is the consumer, with todays rock bottom beef prices everywhere except in the freezer section of your local grocery store. Packing plants are enjoying untold profits on the backs of both the farmer and the consumer. Farm gate prices are low both in the beef industry and the field crops industries. Give the consumer a break; so what if they buy more? Were not going to run out, Canada is a net exporter of both beef and cereal grains.

Yet, for farmers facing an uncertain spring, input costs remain high for diesel fuel, fertilizer and seed. Not to mention the cost of replacement parts and equipment. And dont look at those hydro bills. No wonder off-farm incomes look very attractive, as everything that we need keeps going up and what we get paid is at an all-time low.

In closing , two comments: The only thing worse than a nation that cannot defend itself, is one that cannot feed itself.

And to the farmers, the next time you launch a protest, leave the fancy equipment at home. You and I both know that it is needed and necessary for what you do, and we know that it is usually leased or heavily financed, but the guy on the street does not know that and he is the one we need the most help from right now.

Bill MacPherson

Think before you toss

As we approach Earth Day on April 22, I want to encourage people in every municipality to "pitch in" for the earth.

On Saturday afternoon, my five-year-old son and I walked a 1.5 km. stretch of our road collecting garbage. It took us three hours to walk the ditches and we collected SIX green garbage bags full of garbage, fifteen beer cans (most of them recent additions) and eight beer bottles.

Only two weeks ago my husband and son walked about 1 km in the other direction and collected a garbage bag full of garbage and numerous beer cans and bottles. Last night we went for walk on that same stretch of road and found more garbage in the ditch, amounting to about half a garbage bag.

My son was disturbed by the amount of garbage he found and kept asking me why people litter. I had no good answer for him and all I could mutter was that some people "don't think". Although I never articulated this to him, I was also disturbed by the number of "empties" I collected. Clearly drinking and driving occurs on my road more often than I would like to believe.

What makes this all more disturbing is that we do our part to "pitch in" throughout the spring/summer/fall, so all of this trash accumulates on a regular basis.

So, I ask people to "think". THINK about your actions because there are consequences. THINK before you toss your trash out of your vehicle's window. THINK before you drink while driving. THINK before you toss your garbage into the back of your pickup truck. Don't you ever notice that it isn't there when you get home?

THINK about taking a garbage bag and gloves with you next time you go for a walk. THINK about doing your part, every day, to take care of this precious earth.

- Nicole Kasserra

Feature article,April 21, 2005

Feature article April 21, 2005

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Fire Hall plan causes ireand other North Frontenac Council Matters

by Jeff Green

Bill Flieler, the former Reeve of Clarendon and Miller township, appeared as a delegate to North Frontenac Council last Thursday, April 13, and presented a petition signed by 314 people, expressing opposition to the planned building of a new fire hall at the old MNR site on Buckshot Lake Road at Plevna.

Chief among their concerns is the fact that the hall will be located several kilometres away from where it is now, at the township office on Road 506 between Ardoch and Plevna. For people who live in the Ardoch and Fernleigh areas, the new fire hall will be further from their homes, and Fleiler said that he has heard from one woman in particular, who lives on a fixed income, and has been told her insurance will go up $400 per year when the fire hall is moved.

In one of their preliminary reports, the Fire Hall Task Force claimed that the change in location would bring the fire hall closer to many properties, even as it becomes a longer drive to other locations. The Task Force concluded that the net outcome was neutral overall.

Flieler also argued that the current location was suitable, and said concerns about carbon monoxide in the township office could be alleviated by blocking of certain doors, and opening other doors. He also said the township office could move to the new location and the fire hall stay where it is for less money than is being contemplated for a new fire hall.

Finally, Flieler complained about a lack of public consultation on the fire hall, reading out an editorial from the April 7 edition of the Frontenac News, Wilma Kennys Rage Against the Municipal Machine.

On this matter, Councillor Will Cybulski responded by saying the fire hall issue and other public issues will be the subject of a public meeting on May 14 at the Barrie Hall, from 9 am to 12 pm.

A lot of the issues Mr. Flieler has brought up will be addressed at that meeting, Cybulski said.

Councillor Bud Clayton said I think Bill is stating his own opinion. Its [the new fire hall] not a done deal by any means.

Later in the meeting, council considered two proposals out of the five it has received in response to a Request For Proposal that had been circulated for the design of a new fire hall. The consideration was complicated by the fact that the lowest, and most compelling bid, was accompanied by an un-requested proposal for a pre-fabricated building to be attached to the existing building on the MNR site, which is to be renovated.

Several councillors thought the prefabricated building might be a good option, but it was not what had been requested in the request for proposal document.

Eventually it was decided that other bidders be given the opportunity to make proposals for a prefabricated building, and a revised Request for Proposal will be prepared.

We have made a firm decision not to decide, said Councillor Cybulski afterwards.

The proposal that includes a prefabricated building would cost about $24,000 for the design contract, but the estimated cost of the project would approach $400,000. Originally the Fire Hall Task Force had been hoping to provide a new fire hall for $300,000. $100,000 has been committed to the project by the Clar/Mill Fire Ladies Auxiliary, and the township will have to finance the rest if the project is approved.

A final decision will not happen until the budgetary implications are looked at, and the public meeting on May 14 takes place.

Other Council matters:

Sunday gun hunting prohibition remains

Councillors Dick Hook and Dave Smith were absent from last weeks meeting, and this might have been a factor in a decision by Council to reject a call from the Ministry of Natural Resources to allow gun hunting on Sundays during the various hunting seasons. Most on Council were sceptical about the claim this would help deal with nuisance deer, saying an expanded season or an increase or increasing the number of doe tags would be much more effective.

The voting broke down along hunter/non-hunter lines. Mayor Maguire, Deputy Mayor Lemke, and Councillor Hunter opposed Sunday gun hunting, and Councillors Clayton and Cybulski voted in favour. The motion was defeated.

SPEED LIMIT BYLAW FINALLY PASSED: After delaying third reading on two occasions so the bylaw could be clarified, Council passed the new speed limit bylaw, stipulating all 50 km/hr zones within the township. The list of 50 km/h zones has been posted on the townships website. Signs will be posted and the OPP will be notified so they can enforce the bylaw when they are present in the township.

POLICING: The Policing Task Force had been committed to bringing in its final report but Councillor Cybulski asked for more time, saying he had not as yet received all the required information. It is highly unlikely, however, that the Task Force will recommend changing from the current policing system, known as Status Quo Policing, to a formal policing contract. Contract policing would be too expensive.

ONTARIO MUNICIPAL PARTNERSHIP FUND CAO/Treasurer Cheryl Robson told Council that she is still looking for detailed explanation as to how the new Ontario Municipal Partnership fund will work, and how much money the township can expect to receive through the fund in future years. She said she will be meeting with other treasurers in the coming weeks and will bring whatever information she can gather to the budget process that is currently underway in North Frontenac.

Feature article,April 21, 2005

Feature article April 21, 2005

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Addington Highlands also rejects Sunday hunting AH Council April 18, 2005

by Jule Koch Brison

At Monday nights meeting in Denbigh, in a 3-1 vote, AH council rejected a proposal from the Ministry of Natural Resources that would allow gun hunting on Sundays on private land during the various hunting seasons.

The measure is proposed as a way to reduce wildlife-related crop and property damage in southern Ontario, estimated as exceeding $40 million annually.

Councilor Eythel Grant was the lone supporter of the proposal. He felt that Sunday hunting would reduce the numbers of deer and said, If it would prevent one accident it would be worth it. He also said that as a trapper he would like to be able to carry a gun on Sundays.

Councilors Scott and Cox, and Deputy Reeve Berger, however, did not see how Sunday gun hunting would reduce the numbers of deer. Councilor Cox said that most of the gangs he knows fill their quotas and cant hunt any more. Councilor Scott agreed, saying that the MNR should issue more tags instead of asking municipalities to allow Sunday hunting.

Councilor Cox also said, I think its good for the hunters to have a day to sober up and rest, which prompted a retort from Eythel Grant that in our gang we dont drink.

Reeve Hook abstained from voting on the issue, saying that he likes to be able to take a walk on Sundays during hunting season, but he could see some possible economic benefit in Sunday hunting.

Council passed a resolution rejecting the proposal and recommending to the MNR that they issue more tags instead.

North and Central Frontenac councils have also said no to Sunday gun hunting.

LITTERING AND GARBAGE CONCERNS: Its hard to promote an area if some people want to make it like a slum, said Deputy Reeve Berger in a discussion of unsightly garbage and littering on both public and private property. Councilors Scott and Cox both said they had received complaints about unsightly yards, and council as a whole was concerned that the desirability of Addington Highlands as an area was being harmed by these problems.

On positive notes, Councilor Scott praised all the ice fisher-persons for their care in taking their garbage off the ice, saying she was amazed that with all the activity on the lake, she had only found 2 cans in the water. She also said that she and her neighbours routinely take bags with them when to go out walking so they can pick up garbage. Other councilors concurred that they also know of people who do that.

Nevertheless, it was felt that the township needs to do something about the problem. They will look into obtaining No Littering signs that specify the $250 fine, and they plan to put notices in with the tax bills.

Students will be doing a clean up on the Addington Road on the weekend.

FENCE VIEWING: So what does a fence viewer do besides view fences? asked Reeve Hook jokingly of Township Clerk Jack Pauhl, in reference to an ad the township placed in the newspaper last week. Pauhl replied that they arbitrate in cases of line fence disputes, but added, hopefully we wont need them, He said that the township has never needed fence viewers before, but a situation is on the horizon that has prompted him to try to line up viewers. He has two names now, but three viewers are required.

Councilor Cox said when he looked into the subject of fences, he was surprised to find out that a resident is obliged to pay half of the costs towards a neighbours fence whether they themselves want a fence or not. Pauhl replied that only applied in Flinton and it was agreed that a fence bylaw is needed that would apply consistently to the whole municipality.

ROADS TAKE A BEATING: Roads Supervisor Royce Rosenblath reported that while on a routine patrol he had seen a cement truck on the Hartsmere Road. The half loads restriction is still on and trucks carrying full loads of construction materials do a lot of damage to the roads at this time of year. Rosenblath said that loggers had complained to him about trucks with construction materials being allowed on roads when logging trucks werent. They are in fact not allowed, but Rosenblath personally hadnt seen any construction trucks before.

Councilors said that residents, especially cottagers might not be aware of the problem and recommended that all building permits be stamped with the half loads restrictions.

CHLORIDE SPRAYING: Councilor Scott asked Royce Rosenblath If chloride spraying could start earlier because it is already needed. Rosenblath replied that cost is the concern because the roads would then have to be sprayed twice, doubling the cost from $10,000 to $20,000.

FIRE BAN: Presently there is a fire ban in the township. Fire Bans are usually announced on the radio.

ATV BYLAW: The township needs to consult its solicitor on possible liability if the township misses posting some unmaintained or seasonally maintained roads as not safe for ATV travel. The township also needs advice on the wording of the signs.

Feature article,April 28, 2005

Feature articleApril 28, 2005

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Two percent decrease in tax rate in Central Frontenac to be approved on May 9

by Jeff Green

Central Frontenac Council took a short last look at the township budget at their Council meeting this Tuesday, receiving some updated data from township treasurer Judy Gray, and then they approved the budget in principle.

Among the new information Judy Gray brought to Council was the net increase in funding for 2005 that results from the new funding formula from the Province of Ontario, a one-time increase of $357,000. Since the provincial transfers for 2006 are still unclear, and there is a prospect of significant policing cost increases, Gray recommended the township follow the path suggested by Mayor MacDonald and put the extra money into reserves. She also pointed out that the townships reserves have been shrinking in recent years, and could use some replenishing.

Policing costs are increasing by $100,000 this year, Gray reported, but Council will be saving $70,000 from earlier budget projections because their application to the Canada Ontario Municipal Infrastructure Renewal (COMRIF) Project was rejected and they had allocated $70,000 to the proposed COMRIF project in 2005.

A one-time $50,000 grant that has been received by the townships fire department has simply been added to the fire department training budget for the year.

All in all, Judy Gray suggested all of the new figures need not affect the overall budget outlook, and the 2% decrease in the tax rate that was accepted at the last budget meeting should be maintained. A motion to accept the budget projections and prepare a budget bylaw was approved unanimously, although Councilor Logan Murray pointed out that doesnt mean the final budget will be approved unanimously.

Dump Amnesty retained

In the past three years taxpayers have received a card with their June tax bill that entitled them to one free dump load, excluding tires. Council considered its dump amnesty program, and a report from staff said that the program has increased in popularity in the three years it has been in existence. In 2002, 29% of the passes were used, in 2003, 32%, and in 2004, 37%.

A suggestion was made that the passes not be accepted at the Elbow Lake and Arden sites, which are near to capacity and that the program be put in place for 2005, with the passes expiring on Thanksgiving weekend.

Councillor Logan Murray was opposed. Im against amnesty days. I think they are not sound environmentally. We need to give the people the idea that they need to conserve, and this sends the wrong kind of message.

Every other Councillor contradicted Murray.

Councillor Bob Harvey said amnesty days help to educate people that garbage should go in the dump and not at the side of road. Its also a good gesture on our part. It shows the people we are willing to meet them half way. The free load pass will be included with the June tax bill once again this year.

Voice Mail hotline IT technologist Chris Matheson responded to a request from Council to investigate he feasibility of a single point of contact for the public to communicate service requests. He presented two options: a 24/7 call centre outsourcing option, at a cost of $500 to $1000 per month; or a voice mail hotline, which would involve leaving a voice mail message, which would then be emailed to an address. This option would cost $42 per month. Council was clearly attracted to option 2 for reasons of cost, and the system will be implemented and studied to determine how best to route the messages so the appropriate person can receive them as quickly as possible.

Murray concerned about new hiring

Councillor Murray expressed his distaste for the new positions that have been created in the roads department, and for which the candidates were to be confirmed at the meeting. The three positions are that of roads superintendent, a road viewer, and a mechanic.

Councillor Murray made a motion to impose a hiring freeze which would have circumvented the hiring, but other Councillors argued that the process was too far along.

We decided as a Council to create these positions, and have advertised the positions and conducted interviews. We cant turn back now, said Councillor Frances Smith.

Murray said My motion came out of the fact that the interviewing process was flawed, also part of the information that we were given was untrue. Some of us were told that a road viewer was mandatory, and it turns out it wasnt. If we knew that, we might not have created that position I think we should conduct a review, Murray said.

Murray also mentioned that he had been confined, as a Councillor, to only one of the three hiring committees, whereas other Councillors sat on more than one of the committees.

I canvassed other wardens at the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus, and the vast majority said Councillors should never sit on hiring committees. Councils decide to create a position, and staff takes care of the hiring, said Mayor MacDonald.

Before we create a position, we should know if it is required, and that didnt happen in this case, said Murray.

In the end the hiring was approved in a 7-2 vote, with Councillors Murray and Snider voting against the hiring.

Feature article,April 28, 2005

Feature articleApril 28, 2005

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Elections intended to rejuvinate land claim process

by Jeff Green

The Algonquin land claim, which has been on hold for years now, might start moving forward again, and Algonquin Chief Negotiator Robert Potts is hoping to set up a preliminary meeting with Canadian and Ontario Officials in May, to set up a full resumption of negotiations this September.

Early this month, four of nine Algonquin communities have acclaimed what are being called Algonquin Negoritation Representatives (ANR) and five others will be holding elections in the next two weeks. An election was held for the Sharbot Lake representative this Monday.

The nine Algonquin Negotiation Representatives will then join with members of the newly elected Council of the Pikwakanagan First Nation of Golden Lake, representing Algonquins of status under the Canadian Indian Act, in forming a negotiating group in order to resume Land Claims negotiations with the Federal and Provincial governments. Negotiations have been on hold for several years now, awaiting negotiators from the Algonquin side.

The process has not been without controversy, however, with critics charging that the timing of all- candidates meetings and mail-in ballots were set up in an unfair manner.

The process was organized and administered out of the Toronto office of Algonquin Chief Negotiator Robert Potts, and critics charge that the time frames and practices established did not allow for enough information to flow to electors, ultimately providing an unfair advantage to candidates who were already well known in their communities.

One such critic is Melinda Turcotte, a candidate for the ANR role in the community of Sharbot Lake.

In Melinda Turcottes case, her opponent Doreen Davis is well known by the Sharbot Lake electors since she is the Chief of the Sharbot Lake Algonquin First Nation under the Algonquin National Tribal Council.

The all-candidates meetings were scheduled two months prior to the date they were to take place, Turcotte told the News, but I was only notified ten days prior to the date they were set for. This to me is unfair. In my case I had a prior commitment on the date of the candidate meeting that could not be changed.

Turcotte sent her husband to the meeting, which took place on April 14 at St. James Church in Sharbot Lake. The election ballots were also sent out before I had a chance to send out my biographical information, and before the candidates meetings, Turcote said. This is a serious problem because the ballots included an encouragement to fill them in and send them back as soon as possible. How was I supposed to get my message out to people who had already voted?

And finally, Turcotte adds, if I decide to appeal the result, the appeal process gives me 24 hours after the results are announced to file an appeal and pay $200 to do so. Why only 24 hours, and why $200?

For her part, Chief Doreen Davis said she found the election had been professionally organized, and she had no problems with the way it was run. I will say that I also had a conflict with the date of the all-candidates meeting, but I rescheduled in order to be available for it.

Doreen Davis also made it very clear that the Algonquin Negotiation Representative election process was run completely independently of the Algonquin National Tribal Council.

We signed a protocol last July with the Pikwakanagan First Nation establishing the independent process, and have been hands off ever since. I received the same notification as my opponent did, Davis said.

As recently as last spring, Chief Negotiator Robert Potts was saying that the Algonquin National Tribal Council elections, which were to take place in the fall of 2004, would result in democratically elected chiefs that could then represent their communities to the land claims process. After several divisive meetings, Mr. Potts had a change of heart and decided an independent process was necessary.

When contacted this week, Robert Potts said the process that was set up has been successfully carried out. Our first objective was to establish a list of electors that was not suspect in any way. To do that we engaged Joan Holmes, who has impeccable credentials as a genealogical researcher, and she has done a thorough and complete job.

Our second objective was to have an election that wouldnt preclude anyone from voting, or running in it. We have done that as well, with the hard work of Robert Johnson, who has acted as the electoral officer, Potts said.

While he acknowledged some of the timelines were tight, Potts said the process was fair.

We did have a problem with the time it takes for mail to be delivered, which is why we sent everything out from Ottawa instead of Toronto, and it is true the ballots arrived before the candidates biographical material. But very few ballots came back before the biographical material went out, we had a very good all-candidates meeting in Sharbot Lake, and a good turnout on April 25 at the polling station that was set up. I think we made an honest effort to ensure that the ballots reached the right people in time, he said.

As to the short time for an appeal, and charging a $200 fee, which pales against the high cost of the process as a whole, Robert Potts said, We want to get on with negotiations, and I think anyone who is seriously thinking about an appeal will be considering that long before the ballots are counted on May 7. The $200 fee is an attempt to recover some of the costs of the appeal.

Ardoch Algonquins

One of the reasons the Algonquin Negotiation Representative process was undertaken was to deal with the competing claims to the name of Ardoch Algonquin by two groups. This precipitated a dispute over membership lists. By setting up a new enrolment process, Robert Potts attempted to bypass the whole problem. People could affiliate themselves with Ardoch and vote for whomever they pleased without regard to who they considered to be the chief of the Ardoch Alghonquins.

In the end, the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation (AAFNA), under honorary Chief Harold Perry, the original Algonquin first Nation in Frontenac County and one of three off reserve groups that were involved in the land claims process when it started back in 1992, decided to opt out of the Algonquin Negotiation Representative process.

Their decision was explained in an ad that ran in this newspaper last week on page 6. In that ad they charge that the The group known as the Algonquin National Tribal Council is the only non-status group to have political access to the Algonquin Negotiation Representation Process. Through their lawyer they have constructed a process that ensures their leaders will be the elected representatives.

As well, AAFNA argues that they have been excluded by the Algonquin National Tribal Council, the Pikwakanagan reserve, and Ontario because AAFNA maintains a traditional governance structure.

The preference AAFNA chooses is to hold off on negotiating a treaty until the Algonquin people are in a stronger position. Their ad concluded, Although there are serious problems among Algonquin people, at no time in the past hundred years have so many people taken pride in their heritage and recognised their sacred responsibility to the Algonquin homeland. Algonquins are on a healing path. Just think what kind of treaty will be made when we are whole again.

The boycott of the Algonquin Negotiation Representative process by the Harold Perry group left Randy Malcolm, the Chief of the Ardoch Algonquin first Nation that is recognised by the Algonquin National Tribal Council, as the sole candidate for Negotiation Representative from Ardoch, and he was acclaimed to the position.

The position taken by Harold Perry and AAFNA is echoed throughout the Algonquin Nation, but others have decided to stay in the process rather than stand aside.

Heather Majaury, who is affiliated with the Sharbot Lake Algonquins, and was involved in the establishment of the Algonquin National Tribal Council but has become a sharp critic of the organization, said I publicly do not endorse the [Algonquin Negotiation Representative Process] and feel the way it was carried out was really problematic, but still I voted. I didnt walk away.

Lynn Gehl, a doctoral candidate in the Native Studies Department of Trent University, and an affiliate of the Greater Golden Lake Algonquins is a contestant in the election that is being held in her home community, greater Golden Lake against two other candidates, one of whom is her own brother.

She has similar concerns about how he election has ben run as Melinda Turcotte of Sharbot Lake does., The election process has undermined the efforts of new people coming in, she said, but she still feels her chances of being elected are excellent, even though her brother, Patrick Glassford, is the Algonuin National Tribal Council chief in greater Golden Lake.

If we have good, qualified leaders, were probably going to get a better deal, she said.

Feature article,April 14, 2005

Feature article April 14, 2005

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Central Frontenac rejects Sunday gun huntingand other news from Council

by Jeff Green

People might be able to shop till they drop on Sundays throughout Ontario, but Central Frontenac is committed to maintaining a day of rest from gun hunting.

This, despite an attempt by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to encourage municipalities to reverse the practice and allow gun hunting on private land on Sundays during hunting seasons.

Currently, Sunday hunting is the practice in parts of Ontario to the north of the French and Mattawa rivers, throughout most of Renfrew County, and in small pockets of Eastern and Central Ontario.

According to John Brisbane of the Fish and Wildlife Branch of the MNR, The initiative was initially considered in response to a report the government received in 2004 from a special advisory committee from the agricultural community. They expressed concerns about wildlife crop damage, which costs farmers about $40 million annually in Ontario. We see Sunday gun hunting as not the answer, but as one measure to alleviate the problem of wildlife crop damage.

The MNR has sent information about the proposal to municipalities throughout Southern Ontario, requesting a resolution of support, which was put on the table at a meeting of Central Frontenac on Monday night.

Central Frontenac Council had several problems with the resolution. Councillor Frances Smith said she supported keeping Sunday as a family-oriented day, and added If we make a decision on this without consulting the public, we will be making a mistake. She also asked Why would they say just on private land, not on Crown land? That would be confusing.

Mayor Bill MacDonald took up Smiths point, saying, Keep in mind this not only concerns the two Sundays during deer hunting season; it deals with all hunting seasons, but I can see a basic problem with this. Think about North Frontenac, which is 80% Crown land.

Councillors Bill Guigue and Bob Harvey both supported Sunday gun hunting (bow hunting is legal in Ontario as is target shooting).

I support it fully, said Bill Guigue, It is my belief that it would be a positive thing in terms of economic development in our township. It would bring more people to the grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.

Councillor Logan Murray said, I dont hunt, but people hunt on my land. I use the Sundays during hunting season for other uses of the bush, to cut wood, and I sometimes have people come out for bird watching, which is not something I would recommend doing when there is hunting going on. I dont think we should make a change.

Several Councillors questioned whether the stated goal of limiting wildlife crop damage, which is caused by high populations of deer in Eastern Ontario, and geese elsewhere, would be alleviated by Sunday gun hunting.

I think increasing the number of doe tags or extending the season one week will have a much greater impact on the deer population, said Councillor Frances Smith.

In a 7-2 vote, Council rejected the proposed resolution.

John Brisbane of the MNR said he expects he will be receiving responses from municipalities throughout southern Ontario, and will then prepare a report for the Minister.

While the MNR does have the authority to declare Sunday gun hunting legal, John Brisbane said it is unlikely that will happen for political reasons. It is possible, however, that a jigsaw puzzle approach could develop, with municipalities that favour Sunday hunting going ahead, even as those opposed maintain the prohibition on the practice.

This issue will come up at other councils in the next week or so.

Other items from Council Council accepts Roads Committee recommendations Public meetings set for April 27, 28

The newly formulated Central Frontenac Roads Committee made three recommendations to Council at their inaugural meeting, and since all members of Council are on the committee, it was no surprise when the recommendations were approved at a regular Council meeting this week.

The first recommendation concerned the terms of reference of the committee, which will include conducting reviews of current practices, with a view towards: achieving efficiencies, improving maintenance and deployment of staff, creating a policy manual, and creating a long term plan. The terms of reference also include the creation of a road tour and the promoting of a phone system for messages and complaints.

The second recommendation is to hold two public meetings to give the public the opportunity to provide comments and suggestions. A meeting is set for the Community Hall, Mountain Grove on Wednesday, April 27, at 7 pm, and a second meeting will take place on Thursday, April 28 at the Community Hall, Sharbot Lake, also at 7 pm.

The final recommendation of the committee calls for the preparation and posting on the municipal website of a questionnaire inviting comments, positive and negative, on all services, including roads, provided by the municipality. There is a stipulation that those filling out the questionnaire must include their name, address, and phone number.

Commercial Property Study

A contract has been granted to S. Rayner and Associates of Kingston to conduct a Commercial Property Study for Central and South Frontenac, in the amount of $17,000, plus disbursements, not to exceed $750, plus GST.

S. Rayner was one of two respondents, along with a company from Ottawa, to a request for proposal from the township. The study is being funded through a grant from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund, an initiative of Industry Canada.

Before the contract was approved, Councillor Bill Guigue, a vocal critic of the study, which he had earlier A waste of taxpayers money, pointed out that, We will not even be giving the money to someone from Central Frontenac.

People from Central Frontenac were free to respond to the Request for Proposal, countered Mayor Bill MacDonald, its just that no one from the township chose to do so.

Fire department grant received: A cheque for $50,000 has been received from the Ontario Fire Marshals Office along with a guide, outlining how they recommend the funds be used in order to advance a strategic training plan for municipal fire departments.

Councillor remuneration The amount of money paid to Councillors in 2004 was outlined in a report to Council. Mayor MacDonald received the most money, $15,943 (the Mayors salary of $14,999 plus $943 in seminar/convention costs). Second was Councillor Jack Nicolson, who received $12,014 (his Councillors salary of $10,500, $1514 for seminars/conventions, $394 for per diems, and $473 for mileage). All the other councillors received between $11,000 and $12,000 except Councillor Bill Snyder, who received only the $10,500 Councillors salary since he did not attend any seminars/conventions.

Councillors are limited in the amount of seminars/conventions they may attend at public expense.