Report on Council:
July 30, 2012
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 am – 11:51am, 12:25 am -3:57 pm
Regular Meeting: 7:00 pm – 7:46 pm
Deputy Mayor Lawrence, Councillors Warren, Wishart and Claire
Regrets: Mayor Millar
In the absence of the Mayor, Deputy Mayor Lawrence took the chair
Encroachment Agreements
Nancy Linton and Steve Siekierko addressed the Committee regarding their request to enter into an encroachment agreement with the Township of Tiny in order to retain their existing dock at 442 Silver Birch Drive. Councillors raised the question of how the Township should deal with encroachments generally. This matter will be further discussed at the next Regular Committee of the Whole meeting.
Petition on Nuisance from a Rental Property
Cheryl Forsythe and William Stewart addressed the Committee regarding a summer rental property located on Spruce Street in Woodland Beach, expressing concern about the loud noise, the number of people renting the property, garbage strewn about and illegal bonfires during the fire ban. Their presentation included a petition signed by area residents in support of their concerns. The house is not zoned for business operations and it is rented out constantly. Forsythe and Stewart made several suggestions to help the situation: enforce the zoning so that you cannot have short term rentals; change the bylaw regarding rentals in residential areas to have a minimal rental period of 31 days; create a bylaw similar to the Innkeepers Act where after warnings renters would be evicted with no refund of their rent; change the noise bylaw to fine property owners as well as renters and make the fine substantial enough to have some impact.
Council resolved to discuss the matter further at the next Regular Committee of the Whole meeting.
Update on Class EA of Georgian Sands and Lafontaine Water Supply
Cecil Gratrix, Senior Project Manager, and Don McNalty of R.J. Burnside and Associates Ltd., provided an update on the Class Environmental Assessment for the Georgian Sands and Lafontaine Water Supply. The system demands and water quality data are being monitored to determine the timing of providing a new well off of Concession 17. On May 16, 2012, the Township received a copy of a letter of concern sent to the Ministry of the Environment requesting a Part II order because of concerns regarding the quality of a private well if the new municipal well was constructed. The MOE has commenced a review of these concerns. The Township, Burnside and Golden remain in discussions with the appellant. If the discussions can lead to a solution that meets the appellant’s concerns the appellant can withdraw their request for a Part II order and the class Environmental Assessment can close.
Council authorized staff to proceed with the project, including an additional $7500 related to the discussion with the appellant, to be covered by the Water Reserve fund.
Septage Management Class Environmental Assessment Study
Anne Egan, Project Manager and Don McNalty of Burnside and Associates Ltd., provided an update on the Septage Management Class EA Study. Phase 2 of the process is nearing completion. Burnside found the most cost effective approach would be to construct a treatment and disposal facility within Tiny to fully treat solid and liquid portions of septage. A site selection process would be required. Treated liquid and solids would be disposed of within the Township. Several approaches to treatment were discussed: geotubes with liquid treatment using a membrane bioreactor and composting of solids; anaerobic digestion of solids, liquid treatment using a membrane bioreactor; lagoon system with liquid treatment and composting of solids; reed beds with liquid disposal to leaching beds and composting of solids. Infrastructure Ontario owns a small Waypoint Wastewater Facility that services the Waypoint mental health facility. A local agency could take over the project and use Infrastructure Ontario money and some federal Phase 3 money (up to 25% of project cost) to manage flows from Waypoint, Penetang and surrounding areas.
The Public Information component of Phase 2 of the Schedule B Class EA is now complete. Council approved funding in the amount of $21,317.77 be paid and taken from the Phase 3 approved Budget and covered by the Garbage Disposal Reserve. Council decided that the matter of recommending an alternative solution be deferred until such time as all members of Council are present.
Draft Property Standards By-law, Property Standards Committee and Clean Yards By-law
The Committee considered Clerks Report CR-030-12 dated July 30, 2012, from Steven Harvey, Chief Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, regarding Draft Property Standards By-law, Property Standards Committee and Clean Yards By-law. Councillors expressed several concerns about the draft property standards and clean yards by-laws. Council decided to defer the matter until such time as various concerns expressed by Council are addressed and a legal opinion has been obtained.
Heritage Designation of Concession 2 East Bridge
As Council representative on the Historical and Heritage Advisory Committee, Councillor Claire presented a motion to designate the Concession 2 East Bridge as an historical structure. The designation passed unanimously.
Picnic Tables
Deputy Mayor Lawrence noted that Edmore Beach Association has requested eight picnic tables for an event on September 1, 2012. Council authorized staff to provide the tables and further directed staff to review the picnic table policy.
