REPORT ON COUNCIL
October 12, 2010
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 am – 12:57 pm and 1:28 pm – 2:21 pm
Regular Evening Meeting: 7:00 pm – 7:20 pm
All members of Council present
CONFIDENTIAL / CLOSED SESSION:
VOTERS LIST: Council raised various questions about deficiencies in the Voters List produced by MPAC. There were omissions in every category – property owners, spouses, multiple owners, seasonal and permanent. The matter will be discussed after the election.
One possible solution that occurs to us is for the Township to itself send enumeration forms to every household along with tax bills early in an election year.
GEORGIAN DRIVE EXTENSION: Heated discussion arose from an article in the Midland Free Press concerning a visit Mayor Breckenridge and Councillor George Cornell paid to a developer at Georgian Drive in the 18th Concession West.
Parts of this matter remain fuzzy. What is clear is that the developer was required to extend Georgian Drive by a particular date, that he no longer desired the extension, but had failed to follow timely and proper procedure. Instead, he waited until the last moment to try to back out of his obligations. As three members of Council were convinced that if the road were not built, the Township itself could, in future, end up having to finance the road extension, the developer was required to build the road.
The unfortunate aspect of the matter was that no way was found to avoid the felling of many trees for a road that neither the developer nor the residents of Georgian Drive want.
SEPTAGE DISPOSAL ON FIELDS: Two officials from the MoE in Barrie attended to shed light on the licensing of the spreading of septage on fields. Chris Hyde, District Supervisor, said that spreading is safe if the soil and the hydrogeological assessments are appropriate. A private owner in the 17th Concession East has had 6 hectares approved for spreading and another in the 15th Concession East has had 8 hectares approved. The latter is the property that prompted a presentation at the previous meeting of Council. The license for this property expires in November, but may be renewed.
Hyde observed that they do more follow up tests in Tiny than elsewhere and that the rate of spreading has been reduced in Tiny. He said that in future the Township would be notified when a landowner applies for a license to permit spreading.
ENCROACHMENTS AND HARASSMENT AT ASSELIN BEACH: Council received a letter from a resident in Concession 17 West, who wrote on behalf of 16 other residents. The letter outlined steps taken by these residents both last year and this to deal with alleged encroachments and described the harassing of beach users at Asselin Park. The steps taken included the submission of a map showing alleged encroachments, a list of them, a meeting with Roger Robitaille, head of Planning. The alleged encroachments include a marine railway, boats, decks, planter, flag pole, horseshoe pits, hammock, fire pits, gardens, rock walls, lighting, furniture etc.
The letter requested a site inspection to confirm the encroachments, their removal, construction of a fence to define the public parkland, and “Asselin Park” signage. Council left the matter in the hands of staff, with the understanding that legal advice would be sought and that the incoming Council would deal with the matter.
HEALTH UNIT’S SWIMMING WATER SAMPLE RESULTS FOR TINY: Following a written request from the president of FoTTSA, Councillor Claire asked for the results of the Health Unit’s sampling of swimming water at public beaches in Tiny. Council instructed staff to ask the Health Unit either to forward the sample results for the summer or to come and review the results with Council.
Following a written request from the president of FoTTSA, Councillor Claire asked for the results of the Health Unit’s sampling of swimming water at public beaches in Tiny. Council instructed staff to ask the Health Unit either to forward the sample results for the summer or to come and review the results with Council.
