REPORT ON COUNCIL
Mar. 9, 2015
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m. –12:06 p.m.
Regular Meeting of Council: 1:00 p.m. – 1:21 p.m.
Members of Council present: Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma, Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart. Mayor George Cornell absent. Deputy Mayor Walma chaired both meetings.
HERITAGE DESIGNATION OF CONCESSION 2 BRIDGE:
The trestle bridge in question crosses Concession Road 2 just east of County Road 6. The previous Council approved heritage designation and preservation of the bridge in July 2012, and in April 2014 the Heritage Advisory Committee and the Tiny Trails Advisory Committee recommended that the bridge be repaired. Lyn Downer asked that this decision be carried out, rather than replacing the bridge with a footpath at grade as has been rumoured. He reminded Council that grants are available to restore cultural structures. Councillors Hastings and Hinton and Wishart felt they would like to take more time to consider the matter, rather than going ahead and taking the bridge down. Councillor Wishart said that he would like staff to look into the availability of grants and reconsider the whole issue of the bridge. Downer’s submission is to be discussed at the Mar. 23 meeting of Council.
PARKING ON ROADS WEST OF COUNTY ROAD 6:
At the urging of Councillor Hinton, staff was directed to identify roads which are unsafe for emergency vehicles. Using the Burnside Report as a guide (see “Comprehensive Parking Strategy” in the Report on Council for Feb. 9), Tony Mintoff, the Fire Chief, agreed to drive the Township, and identify roads of greatest safety concern.
McMAHAN WOODS DEVELOPMENT/ WEST RIDGE DEVELOPMENT EXTENSION:
Councillor Hastings declared a pecuniary interest in this matter and vacated her seat during the discussion. This concerns a proposed subdivision development for part of lot 23 in Concession 4 West. The Ontario Municipal Board approval of the draft plan for a 20-lot subdivision expires at the end of May this year. Council granted the 1 year extension requested by West Ridge Development Corporation, acting as agent for the developer, and also approved the street name Algonquin Trail for the McMahan Woods Subdivision.
(We note that several beach associations and FoTTSA opposed the original 104-lot size of this development, gradually getting it whittled down to 20, concerned about additional beach use, water runoff, the availability of well water, impingement on the green belt and an ANSI [Area of Natural and Scientific Interest], and the precedent it would set for development along the Nipissing Ridge.)
DAVE HOBSON, LONG-SERVING OPP OFFICER, RETIRES:
Councillor Hinton noted that the Community Policing Committee would like its chair, Ray Miller, to present a letter of appreciation and a plaque to David Hobson, who is retiring from the OPP after 30 years of service. Hobson gave generously of his time as a volunteer to the communities where he served. For the last 16 years, he has been a member of the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment. Council supported this move.
