Central Frontenac Council Meeting - May 26
(Editors Note - The print version of this article included the wording the Andy Dillon was "Gone" as Chief Building Inspector, leading to some confusion in the public as to why he left. At the meeting, Mayor Smith clearly stated that he had resigned his position. According to Central Frontenac Chief Administrative Officer Cathy MacMunn, Andy Dillon has taken on a new l post in another muncipality)
Near the end of an otherwise routine meeting of Central Frontenac Council, Councillor Philip Smith made a request.
He asked that a proposed change to the land acknowledgment that is read out by the mayor at the beginning of every council meeting and at official public events, be deferred until members of council had a chance to see the amendment in writing, before holding a vote to put it in place.
In a motion that came up under New Business, Councillor Susan Irwin prepared and submitted a motion acknowledging National Indigenous Day, on June 21.
Irwin said that she had met with Chief Doreen Davis and members of the Shabot Obaadjiwan, and proposed a second motion, to include a flag raising ceremony at Sharbot Lake beach on June 19 at 11am, when the Shabot Obaadjiwan flag would be raised. A similar ceremony has taken place each of the last three years, attended by the mayor, township staff, Chief Doreen and other members of the Shabot Obaadjiwan executive.
Irwin also proposed a second part to the motion, also coming from her meeting with Chief Davis, to change the wording of the land acknowledgement.
The existing acknowledgement was the following: “We'd like to begin by acknowledging that the land on which we gather is the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Nation,” and the motion proposed to add another sentence, as follows: “In particular we recognise the enduring presence and stewardship of the Indigenous peoples and honour their connection to the lands and waters within Central Frontenac.
Irwin said the new wording was intended to recognise not only the ownership of the land, but the people who have and continue to live on the land, and their contribution to the land.
Philip Smith asked that the motion be split in two, in order to approve the flag raising ceremony since Council is not meeting before the date of the ceremony, and as he said “we have held the ceremony before”.
But since Council had not seen the new land acknowledgement before the meeting as it was not included on the agenda, he asked that this part of the motion be deferred and included in the agenda at the next scheduled meeting, which is not until June 23. (The first meeting in June has been cancelled due to admin staff vacations.)
Councillor Irwin asked Smith if he was opposed to the fact the motion was not submitted in writing, or about the content of the new section of the acknowledgement.
He said my objection is about “the fact that it was not on the agenda, and as for the content, I don't know. It sounds fine, but I have not read it, so I don't know.”
Instead of splitting the motion, Mayor Smith asked Philip Smith if he wanted to move a deferral, which he did and Councillor Cindy Kelsey seconded the motion to defer, which was then defeated.
On the main motions, councillors Philip Smith, Cindy Kelsey, and Nicki Gowdy voted against the motion.
Andy Dillon Resigns As Chief Building Official – Mayor Smith announced that Andy Dillon, who served as Chief Building Official, oversaw the septic reinspection program, and managed the town halls, and other township buildings not related to public works, is leaving the employ of the township. (Dillon's last day with the township was June 2nd.) A staff BBQ was held for him on Friday, May 29.
Septic Inspection Program Approved. The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority will conduct 100 septic inspections in 2026 as part of a mandatory septic inspection program. The owners of the properties being inspected will pay $125 each, and the township will cover $1,695 in administrative costs under the $14,125 contract.
Councillors Smith, Kelsey, and Meeks voted against approving the contract. There was no debate on the motion.
Concern over Buy Ontario Act Compliance – As part of its response to the imposition of tariffs from the United States and threats of future tariffs, the Ontario government has passed the Buy Ontario Act, which includes changes impacting municipal procurement. Director of Financial Services Michael McGovern has attended sessions on the changes, and brought a report to Council about measures he has taken.
He outlined how a new points system granting bids from Ontario Companies extra points, could cost the township when making large purchases.
He also recommended that some minimum financial thresholds be increased. This will avoid some instances where the act could result in some of those extra costs.
He said that the Province likely did not consider the implications for small rural municipalities when designing the act, and he hopes to see changes over time.
For now, he warned that if the township is not in compliance with the act, it could make the township ineligible for provincial granting programs, which it depends on.
Gibbs Road – Staff recommended and Council approved, beginning the process of stopping up and closing the Gibbs Road. The small road, which runs south of Highway 7 just west of Mountain Grove Road, appears to access the Price Road in some mapping, but it no longer goes through. In a recent case, an ambulance was routed through it, slowing down the response to an emergency call on the Price Road, as the ambulance got stuck and could not get back to Hwy. 7 quickly. Luckily the outcome of the call was positive in spite of the delay.
