REPORT ON COUNCIL
Sept. 28, 2015
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m. – 12:40 p.m.
Regular Meeting of Council: 6:00 p.m. – 6:35 p.m.
All members of Council Present: Mayor George Cornell, Deputy Mayor Steffan Walma, and Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart
STRATEGIC PLAN KIDS’ ART CONTEST: Mayor Cornell presented the JK/SK certificate and prize to Grace Lee Caston. The other winners were Isabelle Garneau (Grade 1-3 winner), Neil Fex (grade 4-6 winner), and Bella McMillan (grade 7-8 winner).
NATURALIZATION OF WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION TOWERS: After Barbara Reidl (representing the Thunder Beach Association) asked that towers be naturalized to minimize their visual impact, Council directed staff to include naturalization in the protocol currently being prepared regarding the installation of new wireless communication towers in the township.
LE VILLAGEOIS: LETTERS OF CREDIT AND PROPERTY TAXES: A representative of Le Villageois de Lafontaine, asked that letters of credit held by the township be released so that they could be used towards payment of outstanding property taxes of $275,193.67. Le Villageois has also applied to MPAC for a 50% reduction in its property taxes.
The Manager of Public Works advised that the letters of credit were needed as they are to be used in the event that the township is required to take over Le Villageois’s water and sewage systems. Staff is to prepare a background report on this matter for Council.
TOWN HALL MEETING IN THE PERKINSFIELD PAVILION, AUGUST 15: According to a report by Deputy Clerk Sue Walton, approximately 60 people attended the Town Hall Meeting, nine of whom addressed Council on a range of issues – particularly problems posed by phragmites. Each of the five members of Council described one subject of particular interest (LED lighting, the Mobi-Mat project, Parking Strategy, Septage, and Community Recreation Advisory Committee activities). Information booths were set up around the pavilion. 200 attended the community barbecue that followed.
BY-LAW’S REPORT ABOUT LABOUR DAY WEEKEND: We note that the number of parking tickets issued increased dramatically over the number on that weekend in the previous two years, primarily because of the pleasant weather. Some 131 tickets were issued on Labour Day Weekend in 2015 as compared to 36 in 2013 and 30 in 2014.
DAVY LANE SLOPE STABILIZATION TENDERED: Four tenders were received for the Davy Lane Slope Stabilization project (regarding a moving sand dune close to the shore in Concession 6), ranging from a high of $684,401.60 to a low of $365,817.50 plus HST. On the advice of staff, Council selected the tender submitted by McPherson-Andrews Contracting as the most reasonable. Only part of this sum is covered by the budget. The balance — $117,217.50 – is to be taken from the Capital Reserve.
TREE SEEDLING DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM: Council agreed to support the Severn Sound Environmental Association’s 2016 Tree Seedling Distribution Program. Details are to appear on the SSEA website. Trees must be ordered by Jan. 22, 2016. Distribution is to take place in late April or early May 2016.
