North Frontenac looking at reducing Council size, number of wards again

Craig Bakay | Jun 03, 2020

North Frontenac Township Council could have two fewer members after the 2022 elections if Mayor Ron Higgins has his way. Council held its regular meeting Friday morning “electronically” on the Webex platform whereby residents and media were invited to listen in via telephone.

Higgins presented Council with an administrative report wherein he made three recommendations:

That Council salary structure remain the same as they are currently

That North Frontenac move from a three-ward system to a two-ward system wherein Wards 2 and 3 are combined into a single ward (to allow for equal residential representation between the two wards, and

That North Frontenac consider reducing Council size to 5 from 7 with two elected councillors from each ward, and the Mayor elected at large (deputy mayor to be appointed by Council).

“I think this is an important thing that should be put to a referendum,” said Coun. Fred Fowler. “I did an informal poll of 44 people and only two were in favour of two wards.

“I know you (Mayor Higgins) have asked the question on your Facebook page but I don’t know how accurate Facebook comments are.”

“I don’t take all my comments from Facebook,” Higgins said. “I’ve talked to people out in the community and I’d say it’s about 50-50.”

“This has been brought up twice in the past and each time the public was clearly against it,” said Coun. Vernon Hermer.

“I was against this initially but now I’m more open,” said Coun. John Inglis. “I’m beginning to think six councillors is a bit excessive.”

“I keep bringing this up,” said Higgins. “Council needs to make a decision on this.

“We can’t keep going back to the public.”

“It could save the taxpayers money,” said Coun. Wayne Good.

Higgins’ report estimated reducing the size of Council would reduce the cost of Council by $30,924.88 plus expenses but also acknowledged there would be a cost for staff time and potential costs.

And, in a second report on Council diversity and pay scale, Higgins acknowledged that this savings could potentially be offset if salaries were increased in an effort to attract more diversity to Council.

Curiously, the report on attracting more diversity to Council made no mention of changing meeting times to the evenings from 9 a.m. to allow for people with full-time jobs to attend.

Higgins concluded that he, Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin, Coun. Good, Perry, and Inglis were for the proposal and Coun. Hermer and Fowler were against.

“What I’m for it the Clerk bringing back an administrative report,” said Inglis.

CAO Cheryl Robson said that Council would have to decide soon if it wanted the changes in place for 2022.

“It takes awhile to get ministry approval, so the soon the better,” she said.

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Mayor Ron Higgins gave a notice of motion that he’d like to create a policy for short-term, single cottage rentals in the Township. It will be discussed at the next meeting.

• • •

Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin gave a notice of motion that he’d like to explore using the modernization fund to assist small business owners who use private garbage contractors to sort recyclables so they can use Township waste sites.

“We’ll have to make sure everybody understands the waste management bylaw before moving on to the modernization fund,” said CAO Cheryl Robson.

• • •

Council passed updates to its Animal Control and Recreational Vehicle Licence bylaws and discussed amendments to its Noise Control and Yards Standards bylaws.

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Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin and Mayor Ron Higgins reported on meetings with County planning staff on potential changes to how Areas of Natural or Scientific Interest are dealt with in Official Plans and Zoning Bylaws, both saying that progress was made and changes (ie a loosening of restrictions) can be expected when the County Official Plan is updated in the next couple of years.

“There’s been a 360-degree turnaround in attitude down there,” Martin said.

• • •

Higgins also reported that he’s corresponded with the County of Renfrew about stumpage fees and it turns out that Renfrew receives stumpage fees on County-managed lands only, not Crown Lands.

“The provincial policy has been in place for many years and is not likely to be changed,” Higgins said.

Martin suggested the Township apply for a virtual conference with the Minister at the upcoming AMO virtual convention but Inglis said: “If nobody’s getting stumpage fees, then it would set a precedent so good luck with that.”

“It’s worth a shot,” said Higgins.