Feature Article - November 3, 2005

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November 3, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Will Leona bring COMRIFdollars? North Frontenac Council report

by Jeff Green

North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire announced to council last week that Leona Dombrowsky’s office called to say that in response to an invitation to visit council that was extended over a year ago, she might be paying a visit to the next council meeting on November 10.

“Cabinet ministers like to bring money along when they come to visit,” Mayor Ron Maguire said, “and we have received inquiries from the COMRIF people about our grant application this time around. So, maybe …”

North Frontenac has applied on two occasions for support from COMRIF, (the Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund) for a planned rebuilding of the one lane bridge over the Mississippi River on Road 509.

On the first occasion, number one of three scheduled intakes for the COMRIF program, the application was rejected. Eighteen jurisdictions within Eastern Ontario received funding in intake 1 of COMRIF. None of the townships within Frontenac County received funding.

Other notes from NF Council –

High School shop to build crosses – Councillor Dave Smith sought council’s approval for a plan to have the shop students at Sharbot Lake High School build 50 crosses, to be placed on unmarked graves at the Dempsey Cemetery. Smith presented a prototype of the crosses, and told council that the shop students will build them for the cost of material, which is $200 for the 50 signs. He also suggested that Council donate a further $150 to the shop program for the purchase of shop supplies. He said there are likely to be further similar arrangements made as other cemeteries in the township are mapped out.

“It would be nice to pay some respect to the people in these unmarked graves,” Smith said. Council concurred.

Small Municipalities resolution – Earlier this fall, Mayor Ron Maguire prepared a resolution concerning how very small municipalities are funded by the Province. The resolution proposed a more favourable mechanism, one that recognises how the economy of scale works against small municipalities. The resolution has been circulated to municipalities throughout Ontario. Sixty-one municipalities have now endorsed it, while 21 have received it for information.

Feature Article - November 3, 2005

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November 3, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Frontenac CFDCoversteps its bounds

Editorial by Jeff Green

Everyone involved seems to be satisfied with the granting arrangement between the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation, North Frontenac Township and the Land O’ Lakes Tourist Association that was confirmed last week (see “EODF grants come with conditions” on page 1).

The FCFDC has been able to disburse $10,000 for a project they like; they have created a partnership between North Frontenac and the Land O’ Lakes Tourist Association (LOLTA); and they might just have facilitated a $4,000 boon to LOLTA, an organisation with goals that are similar to their own.

LOLTA stands to receive $4,000, which they badly need to carry out their programs.

The Township of North Frontenac is fine with this arrangement because it means they will receive $10,000 that they wouldn’t be able to get otherwise. As for donating $4,000 to the Land O’ Lakes Tourist Association, they are fine with that too. After all, it is not the municipality’s money that is being spent.

Four thousand dollars, coincidentally, is the amount of money North Frontenac Township used to donate annually to LOLTA from their own budget. They stopped doing so two years ago because they felt they weren’t getting value for their money, but maintained a $125 membership in the organisation. Since that time LOLTA has been slowly regaining favour with North Frontenac Council.

I have two problems with this entire scenario.

First, I don’t think that one government’s grant money should be used as the basis for another government’s rebate program.

Let me illustrate. Let’s say Business “A” wants to do some marketing. They are told that if they spend $10,000 of their own money, later on they can receive a $4,000 rebate from the province. For $6,000 spent, they get $10,000 worth of marketing.

Business “B”, on the other hand, applies for a federal grant. They get $10,000. They then apply for a $4,000 provincial rebate and they get it. They spend nothing and can mount a $14,000 marketing campaign, or they can mount a $10,000 marketing campaign and spend $4,000 on anything they want.

Is this fair to Business “A”?

My second, and more serious problem with what happened here lies in the fact that the Board of Directors of the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation have, in effect, told a township council how to spend the township’s own money.

They didn’t say, “Here is $10,000 and you can get another $4,000 by accessing OSTAR-RED. Then you will have $14,000 to spend on your project, or you can spend the $10,000 we gave you on the project, and the rest wherever you see fit”

They said, “You can only get $10,000 from us if you commit to applying for the $4,000 rebate. And if you get this money, you must give it to the Land O’ Lakes Tourist Association, not for this marketing project, but for LOLTA’s own budget.”

This is not something a not-for-profit board should be saying to a council that is publicly elected.

In my view the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation has overstepped their legitimate role in this case in making this kind of demand. I also think North Frontenac Council should have stood up to the FCFDC and said no.

This might be a small case, but to me it is symptomatic of a larger problem. Municipal councils are public officials. Everything they do is subject to public scrutiny. While not-nor profit corporations are public bodies and handle public money, they are not subject to anywhere near the same amount of public scrutiny.

The federal government, which is often far removed from the public, should show some respect, and deal with municipalities directly, in a non-coercive way.

The Board of Directors of the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation should rescind their demand that North Frontenac Township donate $4,000 to the Land O’ Lakes Tourist Association if they apply for and receive a rebate from OSTAR-RED. Let North Frontenac Council decide where to spend this $4,000 gift from provincial taxpayers. -JG

Feature Article - November 3, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Cybulski leaves Municipal politics

by Jeff Green

North Frontenac Councillor Will Cybulski will be vacating his chair at the council table on November 18 for family reasons.

Cybulski, a retired OPP officer, is married to Kathy Gerrie, an OPP officer who has been appointed as the new detachment commander in Sioux Lookout, a community in Northwestern Ontario. Sioux Lookout is a 24 hour drive from North Frontenac.

“I had a choice between you guys and my wife,” Cybulski said to his council colleagues, “and I chose my wife.”

“The community is losing one of its greatest resources,’ said Mayor Ron Maguire as council received Will’s letter of resignation last week.

Cybulski first ran for council in 2001, but was defeated in a close vote. He joined North Frontenac Council two years ago, when he was acclaimed as a councillor in Barrie ward along with Dick Hook, who resigned earlier this year due to health reasons.

The Cybulski family arrived in the area in 1994, when Will became the detachment commander at the Kaladar OPP detachment. In 1996, they made a commitment to the area by purchasing a home on Marble Lake. Their daughters Kalyn and Shayla both attended school at North Addington Education Centre and have since gone on to attend Ontario universities.

After Will retired from the OPP in 1998, he took the opportunity to spend even more time on one of his favourite pursuits, community service.

He estimated that he has been involved with over 50 community service institutions throughout his life. Locally Will has been involved with the Lions Club, Land O’ Lakes Community Services, and has written extensively for local newspapers.

His community activism made him well suited to the role of Volunteer Co-ordinator for Land O’Lakes Community Services in Northbrook, a position he held for 2 years.

Since joining council, Will has jumped into council politics with both feet, all the while working at Wood’s Fuels in Kaladar on a part time basis. He has been involved with the Economic Development and Communications Committees of Council, along with cemetery, policing issues and others.

The Cybulski family is not necessarily leaving the area for good. They have decided to keep their house, and they expect to return after Kathy’s three year stint in Sioux Lookout. A return to local politics for Will is a very real possibility.

In the meantime, Will’s fans can access many of his past articles on this website.

Feature Article - November 17, 2005

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November 17, 2005

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Central Frontenac Council working 9 to 5, almost

by Jeff Green

With 2005 waning, Central Frontenac Council considered whether it should eliminate four council positions when municipal elections take place next year.

At their meeting on Monday night Nov. 14, a resolution was proposed that would have cut one councillor from each of the four wards in the township, but it was defeated in a 5-4 vote.

Township CAO Heather Fox pointed out in a report to Council, that in order for any changes in the makeup of Council to take effect for next year’s municipal election, a decision would have to be made by the end of the this year, and for that to happen action would have to be taken almost immediately.

“If Council decides to downsize Council, a by-law would have to be passed and notice be given of its intention to pass the bylaw and hold at least one public meeting,” read Fox’s report.

Fox also attached a chart of municipalities in Ontario, including population and the number of people on Council. The chart shows that Central Frontenac is the smallest township, by population, that has a nine-member Council. Her report identified a potential savings of $48,104 if four Council positions were eliminated.

In discussing the resolution, the councillors who favoured downsizing argued it would make for shorter meetings and easier decision-making, without eliminating the ward system or curtailing public access to Council.

Those who opposed downsizing cited the geography of the township as a factor, and argued that more councillors lighten the heavy workload and make for a more varied debate and better decisions.

One by one the councillors expressed their positions. Councillors Frances Smith and Bob Harvey, both from Oso ward, supported downsizing, but Deputy Mayor Faye Putnam and Hinchinbrooke Councillors Bill Snyder and Janet Gutowski opposed it. Councillor Bill Guigue expressed support for downsizing, and Councillor Murray was opposed. Mayor Bill MacDonald has supported downsizing for many years, and he expressed that opinion once again.

This left a four-four tie with the 9th and deciding vote being held by Councillor Jack Nicolson from Kennebec Ward. Nicolson tantalised the “yes” forces by talking about the possibility of four councillors being elected in a ward system, with the Mayor and a Deputy Mayor being elected by the entire population of the township. This would make a six-member Council. When it came to a vote, Nicolson opposed downsizing and the motion was defeated.

In an election in the year 2000, there were two proposals put to the public as referendum questions. One question proposed a five-member Council, and the other proposed an elimination of the ward system, calling for four councillors and the mayor to be elected at large, in a vote of all ratepayers.

Both of the referendum questions received majority support, but the turnout in the election was less than 50%, making the referendum non-binding on Council. The issue has lain dormant for the past five years, and it has now been put aside for at least another three years.

Feature Article - November 10, 2005

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November 10, 2005

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Letters to the Editor

Re:Taxes maintain standard of living

I was very pleased to read the letter by Ms. Knight for 2 reasons. For one, it shows that the paper is being read and, secondly, because she gave me the address of the Sydenham Water Relief Fund. A cheque is going out to that organization and by the time this letter appears in the paper, the cheque should have arrived in Sydenham and Ms. Knight can check it out.

By sending the money to the Relief Fund, I’m fairly certain that the money will go to the people it was intended for. With taxes you never know what the money will be used for.

I wonder whether anybody has figured out what the interest would be if the money for the waterworks was borrowed and repaid over 20 years. We might find another millionaire or two among the money lenders in 20 years.

As for paying for garbage collection and the doctor, I have this to say: We have no garbage collection in Bedford. The dump to which I take my garbage is a half hour drive away, so I try to go no oftener than every two months or so, and then it is mostly recycled stuff. The advantage of living in the country is that you can compost a lot.

I can’t even be grateful that Mrs. K contributes to pay for a doctor. I’m 83 years old and can’t remember when I was last sick. I had the measles as a child and the sniffles now and then, but nothing in the last 60 years.

One last thing. I’ don’t “bemoan” what hasn’t happened yet. I object to plans made by someone who is not even from the area. And if things happen that I don’t like and can’t change, then I grin and bear it.

- Astrid Thonigs

Why would Sydenham need treated water?

I have owned a house in Sydenham for just over one year, and I asked myself, “Why would Sydenham need treated water?” I started asking people all over South Frontenac the same question. I was surprised at the answers I got. Here are some of the best ones:

Sydenham village is at the bottom of a valley, where there are only about six streets and not very many homes. How could so few homes with septic tanks pollute the ground water so badly?

The answer was simple, what's on the hill overlooking Sydenham? Why, two schools. Every school day of the year, over 1500 students from all over South Frontenac (and 30 or 40 from Sharbot Lake) have been flushing the toilets, and the septic system has never been able to handle the volume. This has been going on for decades. As the stories go, the school board has never had enough money to properly maintain their septic overload. Why should Sydenham be any different?

The council has omitted putting water pipes down the lanes in Sydenham, so the people who live on the lanes must not have that bad water, even though they are in the same valley as their neighbours who are going to get the water, I think the citizens of Sydenham are not the true benefactors of the Sydenham Water Project; in reality it's the schools.

What if we were to take a class action suit against the school board for polluting our water table instead of being shafted by a council that may have another hidden agenda. How about every time a village somewhere needs some major area-related improvement, the local council says the area affected has to pay for it. Think about this one for a moment. The province is downloading costs it once incurred for us onto the municipalities. Our elected voices don't want to raise taxes so they can get re-elected, so they download local improvements onto the related area.

We need to bind together and let council know we want to pay for our children's safety and our own security. When you think about the cost of water being forced upon 272 homes, $1.8 million estimated, divided by over 10,000 South Frontenac Ratepayers, it's only $180. That $180 will buy us so much peace of mind and future benefits when your area or some other needs improvements.

Our MPP Leona Dombrowsky wrote Mayor Bill Lake a letter (printed in The Frontenac News October 6) informing Mayor Lake how the money from the province for the water came from all over the province and was not area related, the same with the third the federal government chipped in. Why is South Frontenac council talking like we are nothing but dirt--maybe because we don't get involved or speak up. If we don't stand up for what's right now, you can't complain when it's too late and it happens to you.

- Don Wiskin

The Sydenham water 'Disaster' fund

Councillor Ron Vanderwal presented a motion at the last council meeting to set up a fund where the taxpayers of South Frontenac can donate to the Sydenham water 'disaster' (my word- it just fits so well) and subsequently get a tax receipt. Finally, there is a sign that council has an awareness of how devastating this water system is for Sydenham residents. Thank you, Ron.

Without diminishing Ron's intentions, I am compelled to point out that the fund is in lieu of spreading the water system costs over the township and the premise is that the taxpayers who don't want to contribute to Sydenham water shouldn't have to. Well, I don't want to contribute my thousands of dollars for this ill-conceived, inappropriate water system either, but that doesn't seem to matter. In fact, it doesn't seem to matter that 92% of the taxpayers in Sydenham petitioned against this 'cadillac' solution. This then begs the question: How can council justify forcing fewer than 300 taxpayers to pay up to $25,000, yet $13 per year for the other 8,000 taxpayers is out of the question?

Council's answer is that the rest of the township doesn't benefit. RUBBISH! The taxes generated from new development and increased property taxes will be spread over the whole township for everyone's benefit. So for $13 a year the rest of the township will actually realize a benefit, whereas any gain Sydenham residents might recover will have to go toward interest on our loans and the outrageously expensive water coming out of our taps!

It seems to me that if council actually believes that only Sydenham residents benefit from this water system, then any future tax revenues generated from it should stay in Sydenham for the benefit of Sydenham! Now this may seem a bit un-neighbourly, but I'm just following the lead of our elected representatives AND the other council members who do not represent Sydenham, but voted to spend our money so indiscriminately.

- Cathie Waugh

Feature Article - November 17, 2005

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Leona comes to Council, but doesn't bring goodies

by Jeff Green

As Ontario’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Leona Dombrowsky now oversees the Ministry that is charged with deciding which municipalities will be funded through the joint federal/provincial COMRIF (Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund) program. So, when word came to members of North Frontenac Council that she would be accepting a long-standing invitation to address Council, hopes were raised that she might bring good news about North Frontenac’s application to the second round of COMRIF.

These hopes were dashed, however, when Dombrowsky told Council that results from round 2 of COMRIF will not be available until the end of the year, at the earliest.

“We are hoping to have the selection process complete by the end of December. I’m not sure that we’ll make it, but that’s what we are aiming for,” she told the assembled councillors in Plevna last Thursday.

She also said that the selection process for the COMRIF grants, while under the purview of her Ministry, is being handled by an arms-length secretariat.

“As you are all aware, none of the projects in Frontenac County were funded in round 1 of COMRIF, and as you know as well, I have heard about this in a very strong way from Mayor Maguire and others.

“But that was only intake one. There are three intakes for COMRIF. You wouldn’t give up because you didn’t score in the first period of a hockey game.”

North Frontenac has applied, in both round one and round 2 of COMRIF, for funding support to replace the one lane bridge over the Mississippi River on road 509 with a two-lane bridge.

Jointly, the federal and provincial governments will be spending $400 million on Intake 2 of COMRIF. Grant requests for Intake 2 total $1.1 billion. Municipal governments that receive COMRIF support, pay 1/3 of the cost of the accepted projects. Intakes 1 and 2 will use up 80% of the funds allocated to the program.

During her one-hour visit to Council, Leona Dombrowsky also addressed a proposal that Mayor Ron Maguire has made that has been supported by nearly 100 Ontario municipalities. The proposal would see very small municipalities receive relief from paying social services costs that were downloaded from the provincial government under the Harris Tories.

“As I understand it, you would like to see social service costs for the smallest municipalities subsidised entirely by taxpayers from throughout the province,” Dombrowsky said to Ron Maguire, “but in that case, would you no longer need programs like COMRIF to help with infrastructure costs?”

“Not at all, not at all,” Maguire said, “we need support for infrastructure no matter what.”

Feature Article - November 24, 2005

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November 24, 2005

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Denbigh computer thefts pinpoint library's vulnerabilities: Addington Highlands Council, November 21, 2005

by Jule Koch Brison

A delegation from the Addington Highlands Library Board attended the meeting to ask council to replace two computers that were stolen from the Denbigh Library on October 17, the same night as the last council meeting in the building.

Speaking for the group, CEO June Phillips said that the theft highlighted the libraries’ vulnerability. “Council did not adequately insure the libraries. It is the township’s responsibility to replace the computers,” she said.

The computers were worth approximately $3000 but the township has a $2500 deductible on its insurance.

Reeve Hook acknowledged that the Library Board has worked hard and garnered a lot of money to improve the libraries, but said it would be very expensive to not have a $2500 deductible clause. He said the township had also felt that as the computers were not bought with township money, “why insure them?” The computers had been bought with a grant from Industry Canada to set up a CAP (Community Access Portal) site at the library. Reeve Hook said he supports budgeting to replace the computers and that council is working to make sure the library is “a totally secure area”.

June Phillips asked if there was money in the township budget to cover the $2500 deductible. “If we had a theft, even in this instance, if the money were in the budget, we would only have to fundraise for $500,” she said. “... The Library Board has no responsibility for securing this part of the building. It is through your neglect that we lost the computers. Council left that door open.”

Councillor Bill Cox bristled at the suggestion that the theft was council’s fault and asked about the police report. Reeve Hook then read the report out, but it did not specify whether there had been a break in. Deputy Reeve Lorraine Berger quietly confirmed that there had been no forced entry to the library door.

Councillor Cox said that a new oil furnace will be put in the building on December 1 and Fire Chief Casey Cuddy will do the fire work to make the whole building secure. Cuddy will submit a report in January.

June Phillips said that the Board will be putting bars on the libraries’ windows, and she also discussed an alarm system with council.

Councillor Louise Scott said that since “Robbers wait until you’ve replaced the goods and strike again in three months”, the township would not replace the computers until the library is secure.

Meanwhile, Jim MacPherson of the Frontenac E-Waste Recycling Centre heard of the theft and has offered to donate two computers to the library. June Phillips acknowledged the kind offer, but said that as they would have to spend about $300 on each computer for software and network cards, they would wait.

Council passed a motion to replace the computers after the building is secure. In the meantime, anyone with any information on the theft is asked to call OPP Constable Verbruggen at 336-2244. See the township’s ad on page 2 for more information.

RESOLUTIONS: Council voted to support various resolutions from other municipalities, including:

- one from the City of Niagara Falls asking the federal government to intervene in the wholesale gasoline sector to restore the free market system of competition;

- one from the Township of Chisholm petitioning for the reinstatement of the spring bear hunt;

- and one from a coalition for reforming the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). Township Clerk Jack Pauhl explained that presently, if a township passes a bylaw, someone could take it to the OMB and it could be overturned. This effectively takes the power away from elected officials and is costing municipalities a lot of money.

WASTE DIVERSION ONTARIO DATACALL RESULTS: According to WDO’s results, in 2004, the net cost for AH’s recycling program was $79,554 or $586 per tonne. This was higher than the municipal average of $235 per tonne. Reeve Hook said later that part of the difference may be the higher fees for trucking in the north, and also variations in reporting data. For example, North Frontenac, which recycles a similar tonnage to AH, reported administration costs of $342, as opposed to AH’s $2397. Reeve Hook says AH is tremendously pleased with its recycling program, which increased 44% from 2003 to 2004, and is up again in 2005. AH will be participating in a WDO program to lower costs and increase recovery rates and revenue for its recycling program.

ROAD SUPERVISOR’S REPORT: Roads Supervisor Royce Rosenblath reported that two ton loads of garbage had been picked up from the Flinton and Bridgewater Roads. Students had twice cleaned up the same roads in the summer; the last time being in late August. Reeve Hook said that hopefully residents will start taking a few licence plate numbers.

- Reeve Hook conveyed a request from the owners of Four Loons Marina on Weslemkoon Lake for speed bumps to be placed in front of the marina. They said that speeding on that stretch is a problem and a child was almost hit. Plastic speed bumps will be put in place for the summer and removed in the winter.

- Councillor Louise Scott asked for lighting to be placed at the intersection of the Skootamatta Lake Rd, as it is hard to see the turn. Rosenblath said he would check with the engineer, and also ask for the speed limit to be kept at 50 and not raised to 60 until after that point.

- A vehicle and boats that have been abandoned at the Ashby Lake landing will be hauled away. Although the main opinion was that the boats are garbage, they will be held for 30 days before being disposed of.

Feature Article - November 17, 2005

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Garrison Shores: a problem that just won't go away

by Jeff Green

Paul Chaves from the Garrison Shores Property Owners’ Association appeared before Central Frontenac Council this week in search of something most other waterfront property owners take for granted: deeds to their own properties.

Garrison Shores was a development that came into being in the early 1980’s. It originally included 108 lots, some of which were never built on. Originally the people who bought into the project built homes on leased land, but the project went sour at some point and legal title has never been established. Trying to make the existing dwellings at the Garrison Shores Development into legal properties perplexed Kennebec for many years, and has been an ongoing problem for Central Frontenac Council. At one point, three years ago, a zoning proposal was forwarded to Frontenac County Council for approval, but it was never approved.

Frustrated Garrison Shore property owners have again approached Council, but nothing has come forward so far. Paul Chaves and members of the Association Executive met recently with Councillors Jack Nicolson and Logan Murray. Nicolson and Murray agreed to bring a proposal to Council that a steering committee be formed to try and work through the necessary issues to make the Garrison Shores development legal and give the property owners deeds.

But Logan Murray’s proposal, which was submitted in the form of motion, was not brought before Council. Clerk Administrator Heather Fox said it contradicted a motion that had previously been passed at an in camera council meeting. This invoked the ire of both Logan Murray and Jack Nicolson, who questioned the validity of refusing to bring the motion forward.

Meanwhile Glen Tunnock, the township’s planning consultant, was also in attendance at the council meeting. He said he will have a tentative plan prepared in the next month or so that will include an amendment to the township’s official plan, and will create special zoning for Garrison Shores. When pressed, Tunnock said he could have this document prepared by mid December.

Paul Chaves said “We have been waiting for over 20 years, so I guess we can wait until mid-December.”

It’s too early to say, however, when this issue will finally be resolved.

Train Museum Committee Chair blows his stack

Norm Landry, the chair of the Central Frontenac Train Museum Committee made his second appearance before council in the last month.

The first thing Landry was looking for from council was confirmation of a building site for the museum/library that is envisioned. The ideal plan calls for building the museum, an exact replica of the original rain station, on the site of the original station. The problem is that some of the land the station stood on is still owned by Marathon Realty, the real estate arm of the “Canadian Pacific Railway, and some of the land is owned by the township. Even as of the most recent council meeting, the exact dimensions of the township-owned property are still not known.

Councillor Frances Smith said she might be seeing an official from Marathon this week who could tell her if the CPR land can be sold to the township.

“I wouldn’t get my hopes up, though, I first talked to this man over 20 years ago about buying this land. I can’t believe he’s still working there,” Smith said.

Discussion ensued about whether a suitable alternate site could be configured using township land.

“This is silly,” said Norm Landry, “how can you wait for 20 years for 3,000 square feet of land. Never mind that, for now. What I want to know is, is council prepared to provide us a site we can use? Not in Arden, not in Tichborne, but near, or preferably on, the site where the train station originally stood.”

Landry then turned his attention to a complex resolution that was being considered by council concerning building costs, upkeep costs, and other matters. He was unsure how much could be determined before a site is finalised, and was particularly unhappy with a request that a feasibility study be carried out.

“We don’t need another feasibility study; we’ve been doing that for years now,” he said.

He then read a prepared statement, (see letters page) concerning comments made at the previous Council meeting by Councillor Bob Harvey about the Smiths Falls Railway museum being an unattractive building.

“I’m taking a break from this for about a month and a half,” Landry concluded. “I can’t stand any more of this.”

Councillor Smith, and township staff, will be trying to straighten out the building site situation in the near future. The resolution concerning further details of the project was tabled.

Feature Article - November 17, 2005

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SouthFrontenac Council report

by Wilma Kenny

Fire Department Praised for Good Work

Fire Chief Rick Chesebrough reported that his firemen had won high praise for their work at a recent house fire in Storrington district. It was a severe fire in an old structure: in spite of this, the firefighters were able to save many of the owners’ valuables, including photos and papers. Later, the insurance company commented that they had never witnessed such excellent work on the part of a fire department.

Federal Gas Tax Revenues

Council authorized the mayor and CEO to sign a 26-page Municipal Funding Agreement for the transfer of Federal Gas Tax Revenues. CEO Gord Burns reported that although the application process was not quite as complicated as it had first seemed, it was very detailed, with structured documentation required at each stage of the process. Eligible projects include those related to: public transit, drinking water, waste water, solid waste, community energy systems and local roads, bridges, etc. It appears that the total amount of money available over the five years of the agreement will exceed $1.3 million. There was no discussion of how the money might be used by the Township.

2006 Election Procedures

Gord Burns reported that the decision to use any but the standard ballot voting method has to be authorized before the end of December ‘05. Although the vote-by-mail process used last election had been a convenience for non-residents, it had proven cumbersome and expensive. Burns is researching alternatives such as a combination of telephone and e-mail that other municipalities have been pleased with, and will have a recommendation for council next month.

Sydenham Water

Next meeting of the Township’s water committee will be Tuesday November 22, 10 a.m. in Sydenham.

Letters to the Editor - November 3, 2005

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November 3, 2005

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Letters to the Editor: November 3, 2005

“So Long and Thanks” to NF area residents

Cloyne - Further to my formal resignation from NF Council today, in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger, let me say that “I’ll be back!” And so I will, in three years or less. This is a joint (ad)venture, in that my spouse (who, along with our children, trailed ME around the Province for the last 14 years of my career) has accepted an OPP three-year promotional transfer to Sioux Lookout, and so she and I will be going there together.

This will not be a totally “new” experience, as we have spent a good portion of our lives in the North beforehand. However, there is some ambivalence in this, in that I have chosen to follow my heart and my “sweetheart”, as opposed to my head, which says “Don’t go!” As good as you folks are, hands down, my “sweetheart” wins!

We are retaining ownership of our home in the municipality, which will serve as our “guarantee” that we will be returning, and we look forward to rejoining you in autumn of 2008. Dependent upon the political climate of the day (and subject to your endorsement, of course), I may throw my hat in the ring again in 2009 to represent you at the municipal table!

Being that I have perhaps been more personally involved than my spouse with the community, how does one, without omitting and offending some individual, say “See ya!” while acknowledging everyone’s contributions to character over the past ten years?

To all of our communities, and to each and every individual and group therein, a sincere thank you! You know who you are! On an individual and corporate level, your kindness and support have been cherished, and we look forward to renewing those ties in a short time. We would only ask that you show the same consideration for our children, should they ever return in a time of need while their parents are absent!

To each and every one of you who should perhaps pass by our way over the next three years, our new address will be 96 First Avenue, Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1G3. Our new phone number is 807-737-4769. In the same sense of welcome that you have always extended to us, each and every one of you is expected to drop in, should you ever be in Northwestern Ontario. A brimming plate of hospitality, a tall, cold drink, an even taller tale, and a warm bed awaits you! We will be sorely disappointed if, within the next three years, we do not hear from any of you!

Take care of yourselves, be kind to each other, keep up the good sense of community, and we look forward to a renewal in 2008.

With sincere and heartfelt wishes for continued success,

- Will Cybulski and Kathy Gerrie

Taxes maintain standard of living for everyone

I am responding to the letter to the editor (Oct 27, 2005) by a Bedford resident bemoaning the idea of being forced to pay the $13 a year for Sydenham's expensive new water system. I can understand why the writer feels this way. However, she seems to be saying that we should only pay for what we use. I cannot agree with this. Our governmental system and quality of life is based on the combining of resources to be used for the betterment of all. This is why we pay taxes.

My tax dollars pay to have my neighbour's garbage removed. They pay for road repairs in Bedford, Storrington and Portland. I've never met A. Thonigs, but I happily pay my taxes so there is a doctor available when she is ill. I can't afford to pay the whole cost of having just my garbage removed, or the resurfacing of just my portion of the road. I can't afford to pay a doctor to be on hold for when I need her. In Canada, in Ontario, in South Frontenac and in Sydenham we pay taxes to maintain our standard of living, not just for us, but for everyone.

The new water system in Sydenham is a huge, expensive mistake. Everyone knows it. But it is happening, due to the actions of council members, most of whom live in areas outside of Sydenham. It is your elected officials who pushed this through and it is their electorate who should pay for it. We are all neighbours and we should not expect direct personal benefit for every tax dollar we pay.

Also, for those interested, there is a system in place to donate money to help out the low-income families who are losing their homes to the water system. Cheques can be sent to the Sydenham Water Relief Fund at Box 359, Sydenham, K0H 2T0.

- Janet Knights

Re: letter regarding graduates

Thank you, R. J. (Bob) Miller, for your observations about the Sharbot Lake High School graduation exercises.

The ceremony is about students and their accomplishments. Readers would like to see a picture of a graduating class or at least the names of graduating students. It is not too late to do a proper article on the graduating students!

- Lorne Jenkins

Re: Cell phones for graduates

I am writing this letter in response to J.R. Miller's letter about the cell phones handed out at graduation. First of all, I understand his point about it being a concern for a college or university student carrying an extra expense on top of all other expenses involving post secondary schooling.

However, this was not mandatory for these students to take a cell phone. This was their decision and their decision alone; it was only an offer extended to these graduating students. My son was in this graduating class and he did choose to receive a cell phone. He has had the phone activated, with no activation fee, as well as receiving $60 in free airtime. He has paid absolutely nothing, and has received a brand new cell phone as well as receiving free airtime. This was set up as a pay as you go option with no contract or added fees. So if the student does not have the money to put on their phone, they do not have to worry about an overdue bill; they just put the money on when they have it.

As a parent with two children going to college away from home, I feel that a cell phone is a great idea to have with them at all times. You never know when you are going to have a bit of a melt down due to being homesick and need to "get in touch " with someone familiar, or if an emergency arises and need to get help.

I feel it was a generous offer made by Tom Taylor and I would like to say “Thank you”. Congratulations to the graduates. Stay in touch.

- Lisa Matson

New Rector in Sydenham

The Parish of Loughborough is delighted to announce the appointment of the Reverend Arthur Turnbull as Rector of St Paul's Church, Sydenham. Reverend Turnbull and his wife Gordi have recently arrived from British Columbia, and now reside in the rectory beside St. Paul's. We are pleased to welcome all in our Parish to worship and join in fellowship at St. Paul's. Reverend Turnbull's first Holy Communion service will be on November 6, Remembrance Sunday.Please note our new regular service time of 10 a.m, Sundays, commencing on November 6. For pastoral concerns, Reverend Turnbull can be reached at the Parish Office, 376-3033.

Letter to Mayor Lake and Council Members:

A few weeks ago the Frontenac News published a letter from MPP Leona Dombrowsky to Mayor Lake in which alternate ways of financing the Sydenham Water System were discussed. Ms. Dombrowsky pointed out that if the cost of the system was spread over the whole township, it would cost about $200/household for one year or about $13/ household over a period of 20 years.

South Frontenac Council continues to reject this idea, arguing that this water system is based upon a user pay formula and that individuals within the township who are faced with replacing their own septic systems must do so at their own expense, therefore it would be unfair to help the residents of Sydenham.

Many counter arguments have been presented: Sydenham provides many services and benefits to the township as a whole; things can be made fair by establishing a community fund to help individuals who must replace their septic systems; sharing the cost for Sydenham is a good idea because down the road, other communities will probably need water systems. Most of these ideas seem to make sense and I am at a loss as to why this council is so adamant in its rejection of a cost sharing formula.

Canada is not a user pay society. We pride ourselves on our social programs, our universal health care system and our quality educational systems. The costs of these services are shared by everyone, regardless of whether or not they actually use them.

South Frontenac Township is also not a user pay township. Those of us who live in small villages such as Sydenham pay taxes that go towards road maintenance, snow plowing and garbage collection, as well as school buses.

Our children do not use school buses. Most of us have less than 300 feet of road frontage; often this is shared with neighbours on the other side of the street. It costs far less for South Frontenac Township to maintain my little portion of road, to plow it and to collect my garbage than it does for those five or six families who live along one of the sparsely populated roads in this township. My taxes support the services provided to these people. Our system works on a system of cost sharing; we do not ask those who live on isolated roads to pay for their actual share of service costs. It is a sad and serious mistake that our understanding of mutual support and interdependence has not been extended to the Sydenham water system.

By placing huge financial burdens on individual families you are making many of them vulnerable to any kind of added financial setback. To do this to a whole village at one time is extremely destabilizing and is not in the best interests of this township. It would be far better to realize that we all benefit from each other’s existence and that setting a precedent of support within this township will create a far stronger community for generations to come.

- Janette Haase