Sf_township

Jeff Green | Mar 23, 2006

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SouthFrontenacTownship

by WilmaKenny

LIBRARY THRIVING: The annual presentation to Council from Kingston Frontenac Public Library showed Sydenham branch is the largest and busiest branch in the county, with almost 40,000 items circulated last year. Sydenham is open 30 hours a week: Hartington and Storrington are open 15 hours each. The library staff is proposing a shift in the Hartington hours, so that that branch could be open when Sydenham is closed, including Monday and Wednesday after 5pm to accommodate commuters. (There are questionnaires about this suggested change at the branches, for residents to register their opinions.) The Friends of the Library have donated funds to buy new chairs for the Sydenham branch.

SYDENHAM WATER: Council directed the CAO to hire the firm of KPMG to assist with the calculation of rates for the new Water Rates by-law.

PORTLAND CAPITAL FIRE RESERVE: A shouting match flared up between Councillors Smith and Barr over the Central Fire Committee’s recommendation that Portland ’s share of the $12,000 cost of repairing the Portland tanker would be $7,000, to be taken from the Portland fire reserve fund. Smith argued that this was unfairly depleting Portland ’s reserve fund, while Barr and Vandewal countered that it was congruent with amalgamation of the fire services.

ATVS’ TRIAL YEAR ALMOST OVER: Council agreed to vote on renewing the ATV by-law at the April 4 meeting. There seem to have been very few problems with ATVs using the township roads this past year. Councillor Hahn noted that many of the riders are not wearing helmets, &/or are carrying passengers. Councillor Smith suggested the new by-law should still carry a one-year ‘sunset’ clause, which would force an annual review of the by-law.

NEW PUBLIC WORKS MANAGER: Gord Burns announced that Joe Kuipers had been hired as Public Works Manager.

ABANDONED STOLEN VEHICLES: The OPP reported that in the first two weeks of March, five stolen vehicles were abandoned in South Frontenac: three were burned, one trashed, and one rolled.

2006 ELECTIONS: Council agreed to set up an alternative voting system whereby township residents will cast their votes by telephone or internet this fall.