Feature article, June 23, 2005

Feature article June 23, 2005

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Addington Highlands might help out with NF dock Council meeting June 20, 2005

by Jule Koch Brison

Tappings Bay Dock: Although Addington Highlands does not own the public dock at Tappins Bay on Mazinaw Lake, AH councillors have heard a lot from local ratepayers about its possible closure.

The dock is in fact owned by North Frontenac Township, At a recent meeting, North Frontenac Councillors discussed a request by the Mazinaw Lake Property Owners Association that the dock be improved, and several NF councillors voiced the opinion that North Frontenac should sell it to the association for a nominal fee or tear it down if the association doesnt want it.

Reeve Hook has received emails on the subject, and at the Denbigh council meeting on Monday night, he read out one from Robert and Diane Fisher. The Fishers stated that the launch is used not only by cottagers; Hydro One and Bell Telephone workers also use it, as do carpenters and contractors working on cottages. The Fishers said that cottagers who have only boat access to their property are paying taxes for no services and that the dock is important to the economy of the area.

For Councilor Bill Cox, the matter is simple; Addington Highlands doesnt own the launch and should not take on any responsibility for it. Councillor Louise Scott, however, said that since Addington Highlands receives taxes from cottagers on the lake, why not improve it?.. Theyre our cottagers we dont do anything else for them. Deputy Reeve Lorraine Berger concurred, saying, We do make money off it. Although Berger and Scott felt that helping to improve the dock would be money well spent, Councillor Cox expressed concern that other cottagers might expect the township to pay for their docks. However Reeve Hook pointed out that would not be a problem as those would not be public docks.

Council deferred making a decision until after an upcoming meeting with the Mazinaw Lake Property Owners Association, when they will try to find out what the cottagers want.

Contents of Denbigh storage builsing free for the taking: Roads Supervisor Royce Rosenblath said that since it was reported that a storage building at the Denbigh Ball field would be torn down, he has had a number of calls from people asking if they could take various items. Councilor Cox was asked what was in the building and he replied, Nothing but junk! Council decided that allowing people to remove whatever they want will save the township time and money in cleaning out the building; however Royce Rosenblath wont call the people who enquired earlier to give them the go-ahead. Resident Elinor Duncan was asked, and agreed to make a sign to put at the building letting people know they can take anything.

Other matters: Council refused a request to build a road into upper Mazinaw Lake, which the township estimated would cost about $1 million; however the township would consider maintaining such a road if it were built.

Royce Rosenblath expressed satisfaction that tarring and chipping on the Buckshot Lake, Glastonbury and Peterson Roads has been done early, and will result in a better surface. We are one of the first townships to get it done, he said. He said that work on the Hartsmere Road would start next.

AH resident Janet Searles has requested that the township consider upgrading and/or closing a road allowance on which the entrance to her familys property is located. The road allowance is used by ATVs and skidoos and has become greatly eroded. Royce Rosenblath was not familiar with the problem and council was concerned that closing the road allowance would cut off access to other lots. A decision was deferred until more information could be obtained.

A public payphone will be installed on the side of the post office in Flinton.

AH will re-submit the same proposal to the second COMRIF intake that they submitted to the first intake.

Pending solicitors comments, Council approved a bylaw prohibiting the being at large or trespassing of animals other than dogs or cats. Dogs and cats are already covered in a bylaw.

Feature article, June 16, 2005

Feature article June 16, 2005

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Whose land is it anyway? Part 3

by Jeff Green

There are legislated limits to the private use of property from all levels of government. Are they all justifiable? When does the common good legitimately overstep privately held property rights when it comes to land?

In this, the last article in the series, we will look at property rights in the municipal context, and finally at a proposal to change the definition of property rights in Canada.

Property Rights and Municipal Bylaws

Some limitations to individuals enjoyment of their property are obvious and easy to justify.

From time to time local municipalities decide to put on burn bans. There is a procedure that is followed in these cases, with information provided to local fire chiefs from the Ministry of Natural Resources. No landowner can seriously make the argument that they should be able to start a fire on their own land because they have property rights and burn bans should only apply on common lands. Fires spread, so my right to burn brush on my land puts other land and people at risk. There is little doubt my rights are rightly limited in this case.

Other cases arent so simple, however.

There is a current case in front of South Frontenac Council where a building on a waterfront lot was renovated.

The lot in question was an existing lot, but it is much smaller than what would be required today under a comprehensive zoning bylaw the township adopted several years ago. Similarly, the building on the lot is located closer to the shoreline than would be allowed for new construction.

Once changes are made to a building, however, the new, stringent comprehensive zoning bylaw takes effect.

In this case the landowner renovated his building without seeking a permit. He built on the same footings of the existing building, putting in a second story, and turning a 1,000 square foot seasonal residence into a potential year-round 1500 square foot house. He is now before Council seeking a variance from the comprehensive zoning bylaw. The property owner says there will be no change in the use of the building, and no damage to the shoreline from the change.

Council must consider whether runoff into the water will increase from the higher roof line, whether shoreline erosion will be increased, and whether a proper septic system can be put in place for a larger potential occupancy on such a small lot, etc.

Council must also consider the question of precedent. If the comprehensive zoning bylaw is overridden in this case, what of the next case?

Whatever South Frontenac Council decides in this particular case, no one would seriously argue they shouldnt have the authority to place limitations on this landowners right to build on his property.

There is a growing frustration, however, with the number of regulations that are in place, and the number and cost of permits required before any building can take place.

Lets take a murkier case, also from South Frontenac. The township has decided to enforce bylaws that have existed for many years prohibiting recreational trailers on private lots within its boundaries.

In this case, it is not the environmental impact on neighbouring land or water quality from trailers that is of concern. Any such impacts could be addressed through regulation.

The problem is that people with trailers pay only vacant land tax to municipalities and are thus seen as being subsidised by homeowners, who pay a higher share for municipal services.

The second, underlying concern, is that trailers and mobile homes (which are also prohibited on private property in South Frontenac) bring down the property values of their neighbours.

I recently talked to a waterfront landowner who commented about a $300,000 property that is for sale on his lake. He said that a potential buyer of that property would be less likely to make an offer if they had to drive by a property with a trailer before reaching that high-end waterfront property.

Here we have a case where one persons enjoyment of their property, the right to put up whatever safe, legal structure they prefer to use, impinges on someone elses enjoyment, the right to enjoy maximum profit from selling their property.

The move to enhance property rights

Included in the Canadian Bill of Rights is the right to the enjoyment of property. Clause 1 of the Bill of Rights specifies the right of the individual to life, liberty, and enjoyment of property, and the right not to be deprived thereof except by due process of law.

Lanark Frontenac Lennox and Addington MP Scott Reid is not satisfied with this definition because it does not confer to property owners any rights to use their property. Reid has proposed to amend the Bill of Rights, changing clause 1 to the following: (amendments in bold) the right of the individual to life, liberty, security of the person and enjoyment and use of property, and the right not to be deprived thereof except by due process of law, and, in the case of property, without full, just and timely compensation.

This proposal is meant to put the use of land into the Bill of Rights, and to force governments to provide compensation if ownership rights are curtailed for any reason.

In describing his motivation for proposing this amendment, Scott Reid makes reference to the recently enacted Species at Risk Act, through which land use can be legally curtailed if an at risk species is reported on the land.

Reid argues that this is a practical matter. He thinks that a farmer or a land developer who becomes aware of a species at risk on their land, would be more likely to ignore the at risk species or even eliminate it, if they are facing uncompensated loss of land use by reporting it. If, by virtue of the Bill of Rights, compensation is stipulated, Reid thinks more landowners will report at risk species and the Act would thus be more effective.

Helen Forsey, an activist and researcher from Ompah, has written critically about Scott Reids proposed amendment to the Canadian Bill of Rights, saying in a recent article that the amendment could further erode the fragile basis we retain for environmental regulation. According to Forsey, the addition of the word use to the Bill of Rights could strengthen arguments in favour of converting a warehouse into a mega-hog barn or draining a wetland to build condominiums.

However, it is the compensation clause that Forsey sees as particularly dangerous. Forsey writes that compensation has been part of our common law for centuries, but she says that under Reids amendment, a property owner could claim compensation for practically any restriction on current or future property use. This would put at risk limits on urban sprawl or factory farming, laws to protect endangered species or prevent erosion or pollution

Contrary to the opinion expressed by Helen Forsey, researcher Elizabeth Brubaker has made the argument that strengthening property rights would actually be good for the environment. She published a book called Property Rights in Defence of Nature in 1995.

The book argues that the actions of governments, specifically the Ontario government, have both harmed the environment and trampled on the common law rights of landowners at the same time.

She mentions, for example, a case from the 1950s. A pulp mill on the Spanish river was granted leave by the Ontario government to continue polluting the river in the interest of maintaining jobs, overturning court rulings ordering them to change their practices because the property rights of landowners downstream were being impinged upon.

Brubaker argues that the perception that governments act as protectors of the environment while private interests often put profit before environmental protection is false. She points to private initiatives such as land trusts, conservancy covenants and the like and says they bring more environmental benefits that government initiatives such as land designations like Areas of Natural or Scientific Interest.

On terms of compensation, Brubaker says the environment is not at risk, because no property owner who pollutes can claim compensation if they are forced to stop the activity that is causing the pollution. The right to pollute has never existed, so forcing change to practices, even if it stops an existing land use, would never require paying compensation to a land owner.

While Brubaker does make a good case for how activities sponsored or supported by the Ontario and Federal governments have led to environmental devastation and have supported industry over individual property owners in the past, it is generally departments such as industry, natural resources, and mining that were involved. Strengthening property rights in relation to the activities of the Ministry of the Environment or Conservation Authorities could have a different effect, however.

The arguments Elizabeth Brubaker has made in books and articles over the years concur with some of the positions taken by the Lanark Landowners Association. (LLA).

The LLA is dedicated to what they call a rural revolution, advocating for the entrenchment of property rights in the Canadian Constitution so their slogan back off government, get off my land can come to full fruition. LLA President Randy Hillier shares Elizabeth Brubakers confidence that property owners will protect the environment, we have maintained our land for five generations and a recent study by the government confirms that the water quality in Eastern Ontario is excellent, Hillier said in a speech this winter.

Ironically, Elizabeth Brubaker is one of four principal members of the Energy Probe Foundation, a group whose general manager is Lawrence Solomon. Solomon has written articles in the National Post about rural Ontario that claim urban dwellers subsidise the living standards of people living in rural and remote areas and should not continue to do so. Rural and remote was defined a region that is more than one hours drive from a centre with a population in excess of 250,000 people (in a recent government sponsored report).

Through his writing, Solomon has had the curious effect of uniting both the right and left in rural Ontario, including both Randy Hillier and Helen Forsey, in bitter opposition to him.

Thats all for now.

Feature article, June 16, 2005

Feature article June 16, 2005

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North Frontenac Council wants out of the dock businessand other news from Councilby Jeff Green A request from the Mazinaw Lake Property Owners Association to improve the township-owned dock at Tappins Bay was brought up at North Frontenac Council last week, several months after Council put the matter aside, with a request to staff that an inventory of docks in the township be carried out.

The matter was brought back before Council at the request of Mayor Maguire, who will be speaking at the Mazinaw Lake Property Owners Association Annual General Meeting on July 3.

Im sure the people at the meeting will want to know what Councils response is to their request, Maguire said.

Staff reported that of the 30 docks in the township, only three are actually owned by the township: the Tappins Bay dock, a dock on Shabomeka Lake, and a dock on Canonto Lake.

It turns out that far from wanting to improve the Tappins Bay dock, Council would prefer to sell it to the Mazinaw Lake Property Owners Association for a nominal fee.

Councillor Will Cybulski said, I dont think we want to get into the dock business. I think if we build at Tappins Bay, whos to say it wont end up being inadequate in 5 years time?

Parking space will always be a problem, added Councillor Betty Hunter.

Councillor Bud Clayton put it this way, We download it to the Association, or we remove it. If they dont want it, I suggest we pull it down.

I think its a money pit. It will always be a money pit as long as we own it. The MNR sold the people those lots on the far side of the lake in the first place, and they also told them what the docking facilities would be. I think they should go back to the MNR. If they dont want it for a dollar, I think we should rip it down, said Councillor Dave Smith.

Councillor Fred Perry wanted to take a measured approach.

I think what we need to do is set up a time frame six months, three months, or whatever to give the Property Association time to consider their options.

Township Chief Administrative Officer Cheryl Robson was asked if the township has insurance for the docks it owns.

They are not specifically named in our policy, Robson said.

Now that the condition of the docks has become a public issue, the consensus among councillors was that the insurance company must be informed of the condition of all the docks. Concerns have been raised about the condition of the Canonto and Shabomeka docks.

I think if they are not up to standard the insurance company will say fix them or tear them down, said CAO Robson.

I think that this Council should be guided by what our insurance company says about them, said Councillor Cybulski.

Ill call the insurance company tomorrow morning, said Cheryl Robson.

Office Hours raised

Several months ago, township staff in North Frontenac requested that office hours be reduced from 5 days a week to 3 days a week, and since then the township office has been open on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Office staff reserve Tuesdays and Wednesdays for training, staff meetings, and for concentrated work time.

We got our first written complaint about the reduced office hours, said township Chief Administrative Officer Cheryl Robson, in bringing the matter to the attention of Council.

I think the hours are fine the way they are. We have to handle the same amount of business as the City of Toronto or the City of Ottawa. The difference is that Toronto and Ottawa have 600700 people to do the same work. Were not closed two days, were open three, said Councillor Dave Smith.

Others took a different view, however.

Deputy Mayor Gleva Lemke said I have heard a lot of verbal complaints. A lot of people dont like the idea that the office is not accessible. I disagree with it being closed the two days.

While Township CAO Cheryl Robson said staff find the current arrangement beneficial, it is a political decision of Council.

It was proposed that a receptionist could be available at the front desk, but that appointments would be necessary for people to speak to Department heads. However, the township office is so small that as soon as anyone comes in the door, everyone looks up; they cant help it, said Councillor Smith.

Township Clerk/Planner Brenda Defosse said, I prefer being closed two days a week. It allows me to conclude a project. If someone comes to the office to see me, and they are told they cant see me, I dont think they are going to be satisfied.

Another suggestion was made that in the summer time, when final tax bills go out and the seasonal population is around, the office be opened five days a week.

Cheryl Robson said that 75% of the townships seasonal residents pay their taxes by phone or online.

Council left the office hours in place, with Cheryl Robson asking Councillors to encourage people who dont like the hours to put their complaints in writing.

EOTA proposal rejected

At a Council meeting in early May, Cindy Cassidy from the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA) came before Council with a request that a partnership be formed between EOTA and North Frontenac, so EOTA members would be allowed to use the roads the township operated on Crown land.

EOTA has been very active in fostering ATV tourism throughout Eastern Ontario, and Cindy Cassidy said the Trails Alliance would contribute to the maintenance of the Crown Land access roads if a partnership agreement were reached.

Councillor Betty Hunter, chair of the Crown Land Access Committee, reported that the committee had been concerned that any change in the use of the Crown land roads might violate the agreement the township has with the Ministry of Natural Resources to operate the roads. Hunter said she had contacted the MNR, who did not favour any changes to the use of the roads.

Hunter then read out a letter she has written to Cindy Cassidy outlining why the township could not accept the partnership offer, since the Crown Land roads are operated to provide access to camping and fishing opportunities on Crown lands, and not for ATV touring.

Council passed a resolution authorizing Hunter to send the letter.

Building permits on the rise -

A report from the Chief Building Officer David Young showed that permits were issued for $826,400 worth of construction in May of 2005, up from $577,700 for May of 2004.

Budget meetings continue

Council met to consider the 2005 budget earlier in the day, and another meeting is scheduled for this week. The budget is expected soon.

Fire Hall to be decided in budget deliberations

Those waiting to see what decision Council will make on the future of the Clar-Mill Fire Hall may have to wait until the budget is prepared. There are no separate meetings scheduled to discuss the pros and cons of the proposal to move the Fire Hall to Plevna. Councillors have not indicated which way they are headed on the contentious Fire Hall issue.

Feature article, June 16, 2005

Feature article June 16, 2005

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MacDonald chastised over office renovationsby Jeff Green A minor agenda item, office renovation update, presently solely as an information item to Council this week, brought about an angry response from several Councillors.

The matter in question is a renovation of the entranceway and bathrooms to bring the office in conformity with handicapped access regulations, and the erection of spacer walls within the Council chamber to establish offices for township staff.

For Councillor Janet Gutowski, the fact that the renovation plans never came to Council for approval is unacceptable.

I do not agree with this manner of decision making, she said. I think we have permanently renovated ourselves out of a Council Chamber at the township office without Council being consulted. Last year staff came to Council for direction when they wanted to establish storage space in Mountain Grove. For the township office to be renovated without approval being sought from Council, I believe that is morally wrong.

Gutowski then added that she would have supported the renovations if the matter had been brought before Council.

Mayor Bill MacDonald said earlier that Council had been informed changes were on the way. Sharbot Lake Council meetings were moved to the Oso Hall because there was no space in the township office. Nonetheless, he acknowledged Gutowskis complaint.

I will accept your reprimand in the spirit with which it was meant, he said to Janet Gutowski.

Other Councillors agreed with Gutowskis comments, and also asked about the tendering process for the renovations.

Township Chief Administrative Officer Heather Fox said that the job had been contracted through an invitation tender to two contractors which is acceptable under the townships procurement bylaw for jobs of this size. The renovations will cost less than $10,000, and were included in the 2005 township budget.

Mayor MacDonald then brought up the issue of the future office space needs of the township, saying, We are going to have to look at an addition to the township office at some point soon.

This brought out some further debate, as some Councillors argued there is plenty of office space available to the township at locations outside of Sharbot Lake.

It is not necessary, with the communication tools available to us, to have all departments of the township located under one roof, said Councillor Logan Murray. The Public Works department does not need to be located in Sharbot Lake, for example. Sooner or later we need to have much more discussion on this.

Flush toilets at Sharbot Lake beach by Canada Day?

Its been 22 months since a letter to Central Frontenac Council from Wayne Robinson of Sharbot Lake kick-started a campaign to replace the outhouse at the Sharbot Lake beach with flush toilets. A public campaign has raised in excess of $10,000 for the project, and the township has secured a commitment of $15,000 from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund (EODF). The project has been moving forward slowly, as the township has had to wait for environmental assessment work to be completed. The understanding was that the EODF funding was secure until the end of the Federal fiscal year next March 30.

All of that changed last week, when township Chief Administrative Officer Heather Fox received a call from Ann Pritchard of the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation, the agency that is responsible for the EODF program in Frontenac County. Ann Pritchard informed Heather Fox that the $15,000 grant must be spent by the end of June.

Fortunately the environmental assessment documentation has now been submitted. While it is only necessary to purchase materials with the $15,000 grant by the end of June in order to secure the funding, the townships Public Works department says that every effort will be made to complete the structure by June 30th. Plumbing and electrical will happen shortly thereafter. So the toilets may be in place by Canada Day, but flushing them will have to wait.

Building boom

May was a banner month for building permits in Central Frontenac. Permits were issued for a construction value of $1,556,000 in May, up from $899,000 in May 2004, and $375,00 in May 2003. The 2005 year-to-date total as of the end of May is $3,325,000, which compares to $2,148,000 for the same period in 2004 and $1,903,000 in 2003.

$18,000 for used pickup truck

One of the townships pick up trucks, a 94 Chev, is in need of a new transmission, and at 400,000 km, Public works Manager Bill Nicol recommends that it be scrapped. He proposed to Council that a used pickup be purchased for $18,000. Even though this is an unbudgeted item, the township was $18,000 under budget for a recent purchase of Cab and Chassis and Plow equipment, so Nicol proposed using the savings for a pickup truck.

Councillor Logan Murray said, I think we should look at all or our vehicle uses before we decide what to do.

What exactly does this vehicle do? asked Councillor Bill Guigue of Bill Nicol.

Nicol replied that the truck is used to replace signs, and to transport fuel and personnel to equipment that is on the road.

I think weve had our discussion, said Councillor Frances Smith, and I think we should go ahead and purchase this vehicle.

Councillor Murray disagreed.

Im not sure we had the discussion with any depth. There may be some things we can do with our vehicle use. Were talking about spending money here. I think we need to look at that further.

Council decided to purchase the truck. The vote was eight in favour, one against. Lonely Logan rides again.

Paving program

At their previous meeting, Council decided to grant a tender for paving to a company from London, Ontario, pending a reference check. The reference check did not pan out, but the second lowest bid, from Smith Construction, was still lower by $1500 per kilometre than the price the township received last year. As a result, there is $120,000 left in the paving budget. Public Works Manager Bill Nicol recommended that Council use that extra paving budget money to do some extra paving. It is recommended that 2.5 kms of the Fifth Lake road be done, 4 kms of the Arden road, from the end of the existing paving south to the Pit road, and 2 kms of the Oak Flats road be done, from the end of the existing paving to the Struthers road.

While Council was happy to see extra paving done, several mentioned that the extra paving should have been tendered, instead of being tacked on to an existing tender. Nonetheless the proposal was accepted and the paving will take place.

Summer Council

As has been the practice for several years, Council will only meet monthly in July and August on July 11 at 7 pm , and August 9 at 7 pm. Both meetings will be held at the Olden Hall in Mountain Grove.

EODF Application

The first application deadline for the second round of the eastern Ontario Development fund is June 24. Councillor Janet Gutowski, the chair of the Economic Development Committee, recommended that Council apply for only one project at this time, the Railway Mural Project. Five thousand dollars has been raised from the community towards a mural, based on the day John A. MacDonalds Funeral train passed through Sharbot Lake, to be painted on the wall of the Stedmans store in the village. The Economic Development Committee will be looking for $6,000 from Eastern Ontario Development Fund to help bring the mural into being.

Feature article, June 16, 2005

Feature article June 16, 2005

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Frontenac County to seek underserviced area designation from Provinceby Jeff Green Dianna Bratina, the Manager of Economic Development for Frontenac County, is making the rounds of township Councils these days to present information she has gathered about the availability of doctors within the County. She is also seeking to be named as the primary contact for a County-wide application to the Underserviced Area Program of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

In presenting the results of her research to Central Frontenac Council earlier this week, Dianna Bratina pointed out that North, Central, and South Frontenac should all be eligible for the designation according to the information she has gathered from census data and some more hands on research.

Bratina said that the prescribed ratio of doctors to patients in a community, according to the Council of Faculties of Medicine, is one doctor for every 1,380 people.

By that token, North Frontenac, with a population of about 1,800 people and zero physicians, would require 1.3 general practitioners/family physicians to satisfy the prescribed ratio.

Central Frontenac, with a population base of 4,550 residents and 1.7 doctors, would require an additional 1.6 doctors to satisfy the prescribed ratio.

Although census information indicated there are six practising physicians in South Frontenac, Bratina said in her report that she could only identify three doctors in two medical clinics. Doctor Dempsey has a practice in Verona while Doctors Raleigh and Ingo practice in Sydenham.

Based on this information, Bratina concludes that South Frontenac requires at least three, and possibly as many as six doctors to reach the prescribed ratio.

The township of Frontenac Islands is already designated as an underserviced area.

For North, South, and Central Frontenac to seek underserviced area designations on their own would require a considerable amount of work by township staff. Dianna Bratina told Council that she had been in contact with Bruce Maitland, the Ministry of Healths Community Development Officer for Southeastern Ontario, who suggested that, in order to minimise the cost of duplication and to effectively and efficiently pool all of the resources available for optimal recruiting results, a County-wide designation may be the more successful approach to take.

If the County of Frontenac is accepted into the Underserviced Area Program (UAP), which Bratina says is likely, the County will then be able to participate in several recruitment activities.

For starters, a list of UAP communities is circulated to all physicians inquiring about openings. Doctors and their spouses who wish to visit a community to assess practice opportunities may be eligible for reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses.

Community representatives are invited to join a recruitment tour of the five Academic Health Sciences Centres in the province.

If, after one year of designation, a community has not been successful in its recruitment efforts, the community may request access to an incentive grant program. However, this program is more lucrative for physicians willing to locate in Northern Ontario, where a $40,000 grant, payable over 4 years, is available. For South Frontenac, only a $15,000 grant, payable over four years, is available.

The other funding initiative relates to physicians registered under the free tuition program, whereby new physicians can be reimbursed for tuition fees paid (up to $10,000 annually) for locating in an underserved area.

Being eligible for the Underserviced Area Program does not carry with it any guarantees, however.

There are over 140 communities that have this designation, Dianna Bratina told Central Frontenac Council, which makes for a very competitive marketplace.

Nonetheless Central Frontenac Council unanimously supported a resolution calling for the County of Frontenac to seek designation as an underserved area on their behalf, with Dianna Bratina as the designate who will carry the application process forward.

Feature article, June 9, 2005, 2005

Feature article June 9, 2005

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South Frontenac Council sets out new trailer removal timetable

by Jeff Green and Wilma Kenny

Sometimes the voices of the people can make politicians reconsider their decisions. Thats what seems to have happened in South Frontenac, where, six months after deciding to proactively enforce decades-old bylaws against seasonal trailers being placed on vacant lots, the township has decided to give trailer owners another five years grace period.

Prohibitions against trailers were brought in at different times in each of the four townships that became South Frontenac in 1998, and in November 2004 Council decided that seasonal trailer owners who put their trailers in place after the respective bylaws came into being would be told to remove them. Trailers put in place before the prohibitions were brought in would be subject to a $220 licensing fee. At the time, several Councillors disagreed with the decision for various reasons but it passed in a vote of 5 in favour and 4 against

Subsequently there have been a series of delegations of long-time trailer owners to Council expressing anger and dismay at the decision. Many of those who came forward said they had placed trailers on their vacant lots up to 20 years ago and never have been informed about the trailer prohibition bylaw.

Council began to waver on their decision to enforce the bylaw a couple of months ago, and last week at a Committee of the Whole Meeting they came to what Township Chief Administration Officer Gord Burns described as a general agreement that we should try and find a compromise for the enforcement of these bylaws in order to provide some flexibility to the owners of these trailers.

As a result, a five-point bylaw enforcement policy was brought forward to Council for approval at their meeting this week.

The first point in the proposal says that trailers can be brought in to a location on a temporary basis for a period of 30 days. The second says that permission must be sought for allowing trailers on a location for a special event, such as a plowing match, music concert, or wedding.

The last three points deal directly with the illegal trailer situation that has caused so much concern. The time period for the enforcement of the trailer prohibition will be extended until December 31, 2010. All existing trailers will be subject to licensing immediately, at a cost of $220 per year. Finally, by the end of next year, all licensed trailers will require a certificate of approval for their waste water systems from the KFL&A Public Health Unit.

Gord Burns has been in contact with Peter Moccio of the Health Unit, who indicated the Unit would probably have a lower fee for inspection of the sites pending resolution of any remedial action that may be required.

Burns said council wanted to make it clear that by charging a licensing fee they are not allowing trailers that have been put in place after the old township bylaws came into being to remain in place permanently.

The five-year grace period will end. It gives people a reasonable amount of time to seek building permits and put up suitable buildings. Once the period ends they will be expected to remove the trailers. If they dont, the bylaw officer will go to court to force them to do so, Burns said.

All of the new policies will be enforced on a proactive basis by the township, as will the prohibition, once it takes effect at the end of 2010.

Mobile homes are also not permitted on individual lots in South Frontenac, but are permitted within Mobile Home Parks, such as the one in Bellrock. Trailers are permitted within registered trailer parks.

Other Frontenac townships have different bylaws. In Central Frontenac, mobile homes are permitted on private lots, provided they meet Canadian Mobile Home Standards and are properly affixed to the ground. Seasonal trailers are not permitted as permanent features on vacant lots, although they can be brought onto a property for short periods of time. Trailers are permitted for use, however, on lots that have homes on them.

In North Frontenac, the situation is the reverse. Seasonal trailers are permitted on vacant lots, but they are not permitted as spare bedrooms on lots that have houses on them. Mobile homes are permitted in North Frontenac.

Regulations around trailers in both North and Central Frontenac are enforced on a reactive basis, that is, the townships do not necessarily seek out people who offend against existing regulations, but react to complaints.

Other items from South Frontenac Council:

Sydenham Water: Alastair Lamb, speaking on behalf of the Sydenham Safe Water Association, decried the poor communication between Township and residents in relation to the water program. He pointed out that there was confusion about hook-up requirements and fear that the project had inadequate contingency funds. Villagers had no list of the order in which streets would be dug up, and the township has not established criteria for exemption from the program. Residents were not forewarned that construction crew members would be asking to videotape the inside foundations of homes. Lamb asked for a public meeting to allow residents to ask questions, particularly because many homes in the village have changed ownership since the last public meeting, in 2002. Mayor Lake asked why more residents didnt come to water committee meetings, so they could be better informed. Next township water committee meeting is 10 am, Tuesday June 14, in the Township hall, Sydenham.

Mitchell Creek: Councillor Stowe drew attention to a letter from William Pedersen, owner of Desert Lake Resort, in support of a higher bridge over Mitchell Creek, which would provide access for larger boats into Birch and Kingsford Lakes. Citing his "firm belief in protecting the environment," Pedersen goes on to state: "Opening up what amounts to a new fishing/recreational opportunity in the area could provide a significant boost to the local tourism industry." The majority of signatories on the accompanying petition appeared to be out-of-township tourists.

Planning Department Fees Increase: Council passed a new fee schedule raising fees for consent applications from $550 to$600, minor variances from $550 to $650, and charging $200 for site plan agreements. These increases are intended to cover the current costs of processing planning applications.

Boating Certification: Council received information from Greater Bobs & Crow Lakes Association that they will be offering one-day boating certification courses on June 11, July 9, August 20, and September 10. These are open to anyone, for a $30 fee. Further info:

Feature article, June 9, 2005, 2005

Feature article June 9, 2005

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Addington Highlands Council

by Jeff Green

Complaints from Cloyne

Two letters, with an attached petition, have been sent to Addington highlands Council about the condition of three front yards in the Cloyne area. The letters complain about the amount of junk in the yards, and the general upkeep of the yards. They also complain about sales out of the yards, which one letter described as a permanent yard sale. The second letter says one of the properties in question poses a fire hazard to neighbouring properties, including North Addington Education Centre. The letters ask Council to consider taking action, including insisting on a clean up; insisting on grass cutting; putting in a $5 permit for holding yard sales; and putting a limit on how many days a yard sale can last.

In reading out the letters during the open Council meeting, Reeve Hook avoided naming the locations, and the matter was left for further discussion during the in camera session at the end of the meeting.

Denbigh building to be burned

Councillor Bill Cox, in his relatively new role as Recreational Committee Chair, brought forward a proposal that a storage building at the Denbigh Ball field that has not been in use for many years, be emptied and then destroyed. The building is open at the back, and is full of junk that is just piled up in there. Its only a matter of time until someone gets in there and hurts themselves, Cox said. Council decided to flatten the building and then invite the fire department to conduct a controlled burn.

Trailer assessment on the way

A letter came to council from Cecilia Buelow of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). The letter says that a campground in southwestern Ontario has filed an application claiming that the assessment of trailers contravenes the assessment act.

The campground claims that there is no provincial legislation that permits assessment of trailers, and the assessment that is taking place is discriminatory because it only assesses trailers in privately owned campgrounds and not in provincial parks, parks owned by municipalities, the government of Canada, Conservation Authorities, and First Nations.

Nonetheless, writes Buelow, MPAC will continue to assess permanent trailers for the 2005 assessment update.

Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund

Lanark-Carleton MPP Norm Stirling wrote to Council thanking it for supporting his private members Bill, #187, which calls for the development of an ongoing Eastern Ontario Economic Development Fund, similar to the existing $60 million annual Northern Ontario Heritage Fund. Stirling reports that the bill received second reading, where it was unanimously supported by the house, but said, Only the government has the authority to call the Bill for third and final reading. I encourage you to contact your MPP and all members of the Liberal Government who represent ridings in Eastern Ontario to ask them to lobby to have this bill brought to third reading as quickly as possible.

Students to be hired for clean up: Two students will be hired to clear tires and appliances off the sides of certain roads where they have accumulated within the township.

Business Directory: At the most recent Business Breakfast, it was proposed that a business directory be included in the newsletter that will accompany the final tax bill. The Directory has been created, but he procedure for coming up with businesses was not extensive. Business owners are encouraged to contact the township immediately to ensure they are listed.

Economic Development: Bill Brown of the Economic Development Committee made a short report, in which he said that the petition asking phone companies to put in cell phone towers is being circulated throughout Addington Highlands and in North Frontenac as well, and at Bon Echo Park. He also told Council that two applications have been sent in to the newest round of funding through the Federal Eastern Ontario Development Fund.

Feature article, May 26, 2005

Feature article May 26, 2005

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Its decision time, folks

The Council of North Frontenac township has showed they are willing to work hard. They have met for hours and hours on many occasions to work on the structure of the township hierarchy and on their budget. Sometimes they meet day and night. They have also demonstrated a willingness to consider varying currents of information and opinion about issues.

Now its time for them to make some decisions and put some issues to rest. The most obvious is the Fire Hall in Clarendon and Miller Ward. The questions of whether a Hall should be built, and where it should be built if indeed it should be built, and what type of Hall should be built, as well as where the money will come from if a Hall will actually be built, has been going back and forth from Council to the Fire Hall Task Force like a ping pong ball for nine months now.

Its clear what the advocates of the MNR site on Buckshot road want - a pre-fabricated building attached to a renovated former MNR building. An estimated cost for this can be quickly determined. The Ladies Auxiliary of the Fire Department have $100,000 in a kitty set aside for a Fire Hall building Project, and its also clear what want - they want the Plevna Fire Hall, as it has been dubbed, to go ahead.

There is also a vocal opposition to this plan. It is not that clear what these people want, but it is crystal clear what they dont want - a new Fire Hall in Plevna.

Council has decided to meet with the Fire department directly, and with the Ladies Auxiliary, which is fine. After that they have to bite the bullet and do something they probably could have done a couple of months ago: decide to either go ahead with the Fire Hall in Plevna, or to reject the idea completely.

In a way Council is in a bind, because they only have a positive and a negative option. There is no fully developed alternative plan to the Plevna Fire Hall plan. If Council says yes to it, they will anger many people but the issue will be put to rest. If they say no, they will anger a different group of people, but the issue will not be resolved whatsoever.

It would mean that all the work that has been done has been wasted, and a entirely new process must be undertaken. It would be questionable if this Council, who are now at the halfway point in their mandate, would be able to resolve the Fire Hall issue before the next election. There is a risk that this will be left to the next Council to resolve, and what everyone considers an inadequate Fire Hall could remain in place for several years.

However uncomfortable Council feels about being boxed in over the Fire Hall issue, it is a situation they created for themselves. It could have been avoided if the Fire Hall Task Force had been made up entirely of Council members, and other people were brought in only to provide expertise and opinion. This would have left Council driving the issue from the start. If the Plevna Fire Hall had quickly developed as the preferred option, at least Council would have been behind that momentum. Instead, they seem to have been dragged along.

This is not to say that the Plevna Fire Hall plan is a bad one. But its not up to me or anyone else in the peanut gallery to decide; its up to Council.

Thats why they get the big bucks.

Feature article, May 26, 2005

Feature article May 26, 2005

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Fire Hall Task Force disbanded

by Jeff Green

Since early last fall, a task force has been meeting regularly to consider options for a new Fire Hall for Ward 2 - Clarendon and Miller, of North Frontenac.

From early on, the task force seemed to be leaning towards a proposal to build a new Fire Hall at a former Ministry of Natural Resources site on Buckshot Lake Road in Plevna, and attach that building to an existing building on the site.

Council has already acted on the committees recommendations, but has yet to make a final decision on whether to build the Fire Hall this year, next year, or some other time. Asbestos has been removed from the old building on the site, at a cost of $5,000 plus, and the township has circulated a Request For Proposal for an engineering firm to provide plans for the renovation and new construction projects.

One company not only responded to the RFP, but included a proposal for a prefabricated building. Even though this proposal was not included in the RFP, Council thought it might make the project cheaper, so they sent direction back to the task force to consider the prospect of an amended Request For Proposal.

When the minutes from the Task Force came to the last North Frontenac Council meeting on May 26, Council member, and Task Force Chair, Will Cybulski took the highly unusual step of saying he wanted to consider the minutes as part of an in camera session.

When Council came back from the in camera session, they decided to retire the Task Force. They did not decide to re-issue the Request For Proposal for a prefabricated building on the MNR site. Instead they decided to meet with members of the Fire Department and with the Ladies Fire Auxiliary to see what they want to happen.

There has been opposition to the Plevna Fire Hall proposal from a variety of quarters, as has been expressed through presentations to Council, petitions, and at a public meeting with township councillors on May 14.

The financial implications of any proposal will be crucial. Council is in the midst of budgetary considerations, having held several all-day meetings, and another is scheduled for June 9. It is possible Council will complete the project over one year, two years, or they may scrap it all together

Sometime after the June 9 budget meeting, Council is expected to make a final decision on the Fire Hall (see Its decision time in NF)

Fred Perry joins Council - Fred Perry, representing Barrie Ward, attended his first Council meeting. A retired manager with Northern Telecom, first in Toronto and later in Ottawa, Fred Perry has deep roots in the local community, his family having lived in Barrie for three generations. With his wife, he purchased a cottage on Marble Lake 30 years ago, and after he retired in 1992, he began building a permanent home on the lake. When his wife retired in 1997, the home was ready and the Perrys became permanent residents in Barrie once again.

Fred had been active with the United Way, and with CHEO in Ottawa, and has been a Vice President with the Conservationists of Frontenac Addington for several years.

He had considered running for Council during the last election, but when he found out that Dick Hook was running again, he decided the job would be well covered. When the job came open with Hooks resignation due to health reasons a few weeks ago, Fred Perry decided to put his name forward, and he was chosen. Fred said that he hopes to bring his managerial experience to the Council table, and hopes to enhance the accountability of Council.

Community Halls Task Force - The task force on Community Halls made a report to Council. This was expected to be a final report, but the task force has not yet completed its work. Still, some conclusions have been reached and the Task Force has made six recommendations, mainly concerning the way the township and each Community Hall Committee will share responsibility. Recommendation #3 outlines the townships responsibility; The Municipality will be responsible for the hydro, heat, insurance, all outside structural aspects, such as wells, sewers, grass cutting, snow plowing of the community Hall lots.

The Community Hall committees will be responsible for cleaning, telephone, inside furnishings, snow clearing at the walkway and doorways, bookings, collecting revenues and banking with the Municipality.

Further details will be included in the final report.

Grass Cutting tender awarded - Jim Boles was awarded the tender for grass cutting throughout the township. His was the lowest bid at $14,573. 40

Feature article, July 14, 2005

Feature article July 14, 2005

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Central Frontenac Train Museum rolls back to Council

by Jeff Green

Weve certainly had our share of ups and downs over the past four and a half years, said Norm Landry, the chair of the Central Frontenac Train Museum Committee during a visit to a meeting of Central Frontenac Council this week.

The committee developed out of a steering committee that sprung up in January of 2001 out of local enthusiasm for the collection of railway memorabilia that Sharbot Lake resident Gary Cooke has collected over the years.

The committee realised in 2002, under chair Mike Driscoll, that it must pursue incorporation in order to be eligible for government grants, and that was undertaken. When Mike Driscoll died suddenly in 2003, the committee was slowed down for a time, but has rebounded, and under current chair Norm Landry, it has undertaken a membership drive and is developing plans for a 25 by 112 structure to be located where the Sharbot Lake Station used to be located.

I know that Council is aware of ownership issues over that location which is owned by CP, Landry said to Council, so if that cant be worked out we will be looking to move to a triangle of land nearby that the township owns. I have talked to an official from CN in Toronto who did not rule out selling the property, but thats as far as Ive been able to get.

Current plans are to put the museum on the first floor and in the basement of the building, leaving room for a 4,000 square foot library and some rental office space on the upper floor.

One issue that Landry hopes to see addressed soon is the condition of the soil in the area.

While Council once again responded favourably to the museum proposal, there was some concern about tying the museum concept to that of a new library for Sharbot Lake.

A recent consultants report for the Kingston Frontenac Public Library Board called for the construction of a 4,000 square foot library in Sharbot Lake, but tied that recommendation to closing the other three library branches in Central Frontenac.

Any talk of a new library will get people very nervous in other communities, and this will cut into support for the museum project, said Councillor Logan Murray.

Norm Landry said he didnt see why the library/museum concept couldnt go ahead without calling for the closure of other libraries in the township.

The potential for success in a major fundraising venue would be far greater for a museum/library complex than for almost any other multi or single use structure, Landry said in his written report to Council.

Mayor Bill MacDonald, who has been the Frontenac County representative on the Library Board for several years, said, Ive said this before. There is no way that any of the libraries in Central Frontenac will close as long as I am on the Board. The Sharbot Lake Library has the fastest growing circulation in the entire library system, so expansion can be justified without closing any other branches.

In the end, the Library Board amended the consultants report, pulling the calls for Library closings in Central and North Frontenac out of the report before accepting it.

Norm Landry said that he would be returning to Council in the near future looking for a solid commitment towards bringing a train museum about.

Kids of Steel returning

The Sharbot Lake Triathlon weekend is scheduled for August 13 and 14 in Sharbot Lake.

The adult and no-frills Triathlons are scheduled for August 13, and the Kids of Steel Triathlon is scheduled for August 14.

The Kids of Steel is the larger of the two events and has a greater impact on the community, since it involves periodic road closures on Road 38 throughout the Sunday morning running of the race.

A package was sent for the consideration of Central Frontenac Council this week from Amanda MacDonald, this years race co-ordinator.

Aside from mentioning the road closing, the package also asked Council for permission to make extensive use of the Sharbot Lake beach and picnic area, and parking areas in the vicinity of the beach, and for access to electrical outlets.

Last year, the Sharbot Lake event was the provincial championship and over 300 youngsters raced. This year organizers are expecting between 200 and 300 racers.

In considering the package, and its support for the Kids of Steel, some councillors recalled a few complaints about the road closings from last year.

The road closings are not a matter for us to worry about, pointed out Mayor Bill MacDonald, its the OPP that deals with that.

In the end, Council extended their support and approval, pending the organizers attending a meeting with Council and other local parties in advance of the event. Anyone interested in the Kids of Steel, should go to www.ottawakidstri.org. The Adult Triathlon on August 13 can be accessed at www.zone3sports.com)

LOLTA request The Land O Lakes Tourist Association (LOLTA) submitted a request for funding support. Council had earmarked $6,000 for the tourist marketing group in their 2005 budget, and approved sending the money on to LOLTA. The township donated the same amount in 2004.

Noise Bylaw exemption Paul Osborne submitted a request for an exemption from the townships noise bylaw for a wedding scheduled for Camp Kennebec on September 3. The request is for permission to play music until 1 or 2 am on that date.

There have been noise complaints about Camp Kennebec in the past and some councillors, particularly Councillor Jack Nicolson, thought it unwise to circumvent the noise bylaw in this case, but the majority voted to approve the exemption in this case.

Fencing at Crow Lake School The Crow Lake Community Association, which operated the Crow Lake School (a township building) under an agreement with the township, requested that the township pay for materials to build a fence around the property. The Community Association would then put the fence up themselves. The Public Works department estimated the cost of materials at $1425 plus $125 for delivery. The request was accepted, with only Councillor Snyder voting against it.