REPORT ON COUNCIL
Apr. 27, 2015
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m. – 2:24 p.m.
Regular Meeting of Council: 7:30 p.m. – 8:18 p.m.
Mayor George Cornell, Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart present. Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma absent attending an information session.
FIRST TOWN HALL MEETING:
This is to take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on 27 May in the Township of Tiny Community Centre, 91 Concession Road 8 East.
2014 OPP YEAR END REPORT:
Inspector Andrew Ferguson, head of the local contingent since February, reported that collisions are down, break and enters down, and assaults down. However, false alarms are up. These are costly since they require a two-person response.
Officers are able to be on the road more since reports are dictated and sent to a database and the officers work on tablets in their vehicles.
HERITAGE WOODS SUBDIVISION AGREEMENT:
Cedar Point Canada Inc. received draft plan approval in 2009 from the County of Simcoe for a 22-lot plan of subdivision to the east of Blairhampton Properties in the northwest area of Tiny. However, Blairhampton has failed to complete the construction of Nipissing Ridge Road and the extension of services along the frontage of the proposed lots. In order to satisfy the conditions of approval and the subdivision registration requirements, CPCI has agreed to construct the road and install the services in phases. The Township is to facilitate this by recovering, from benefitted lots, an appropriate share of the cost when building permits are applied for.
ROGERS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS INSTALLATION AT 843 CONCESSION ROAD 18 W:
This 70 meter tower will provide wireless voice and data services for subscribers to the Rogers network. It is to be located at a maximum setback from Concession Road 18 West and the neighbouring properties. However, the Rogers representative told the Georgian Highlands Association that Rogers was “just about to begin the public consultation phase which lasts between 1 and 3 months” and that if “things go fairly smoothly . . . it could be in operation mid-2016 or so.” He couldn’t be more specific than that.
CONSULTANT CHOSEN TO GUIDE THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS:
Planning Solutions Inc./MHBC has been selected to guide the preparation of a five-year strategic plan for the township. The cost is $35,000. There were 26 responses to the Request for Proposals for a committee comprised of Mayor George Cornell, Councillor Cindy Hastings, Treasurer Doug Taylor, and CAO Doug Luker to consider. A number of large ticket items have already been referred to this process.
FINANCIAL REPORT AS OF 31 MARCH:
The sensible practice of having the treasurer supply Council with quarterly reports of year-to-date actual revenue and expenditures compared to the budgeted and previous year figures has been continued. This is a highly useful report, not only supplying figures but commenting on significant variances and, where necessary, noting actions. Those interested in the way the township manages tax revenue will find this report of interest. It appears on the township website tiny.ca under Your Government/Council Meeting Agenda/Committee of the Whole Agenda for 27 April/Administration and Finance.
2015 TAXES:
Since the three components of the taxes invoiced to Tiny’s residents by the township each year have now been passed – the budgets of the township (up 2% over last year), the county, and education – tax bills can now be finalized. The amounts to be levied are:
Township $ 8,927,084
County of Simcoe 10,133,742
English Public School 5,558,658
French Public School 85,119
English Separate School 1,189,163
French Separate School 170,163
Total 26,063,931
PAY FOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL:
Effective 1 January 2015, the basic remuneration for members of Council rose 2% (as did that for staff). The Mayor receives $34,051.28, Deputy Mayor $25,528.75, and each of the Councillors $22,132.83. This covers regular meetings of Council, voluntary attendance at association meetings and public events, and voluntary attendance at committees to which members of Council have not been appointed. In addition there is a per diem payment for attendance at committees to which they are appointed, and for special meetings of Council for orientation, budget, training and the like.
BUILDING ACTIVITY:
At the end of March, construction (valued at $851,000) was well above the level at that point of the year in 2014 (at $155,000).
CHAMPLAIN ROAD STREETLIGHTS:
Staff recommended that lights be placed at three locations on Champlain Road: 900, 1773, and 1964, and that the matter be deferred to the 2016 Budget for further consideration. The cost is $4,200 for installation plus $223.20 per year for hydro.
INVASIVE SPECIES:
Of the three types of invasive species listed in the report on the township’s “Invasive Species Management Plan” – aquatic, terrestrial, and diseases – the focus is on terrestrial, and primarily on invasive Phragmites (the species drawn to the township’s attention in 2008 by FoTTSA) and giant hogweed. It mentions garlic mustard, dog strangling vine, common & glossy buckthorn, and the emerald ash borer as secondary concerns. When residents contact staff about those, they are told to contact the Ministry of Natural Resources & Forestry or the Invasive Species Hotline.
Since 2009, the township has controlled four dense Phragmites stands with Roundup: a patch on Archer Road near the Tiny/Flos Townline, another at 2300 Tiny Beaches Road South, a third at 2020 Tiny Beaches Road South, and a fourth on the beach at Concession Road 8.
It deals with Phragmites only on public lands, and only as it is drawn to its attention by complaints from the public. For smaller stands Public Works may remove the whole plant, rhizomes and all, or it may remove the seed heads. For medium stands, it removes seed heads and asks for a “Letter of Opinion,” presumably to allow the use of Roundup. But time for this work is limited given other responsibilities.
(Unfortunately, none of these moves is effective without vigilant and regular follow-up throughout the growing season. Phragmites, which has ruined many beaches along Lake Michigan, continues to spread and threaten Tiny’s beautiful beaches. What’s needed is a vigorous information campaign, penalties for private land-owners who fail to extirpate the plant on their property, and a concerted effort to eliminate, not just manage, this pest.)
The two reported instances of giant hogweed in the last four years received effective treatment. Both were sprayed and “removed under controlled conditions.”
HERITAGE PLAQUE DESIGN APPROVED:
Council approved the design that the Heritage Advisory Committee arrived at after a year’s deliberation.
