North Frontenac Council - Oct 23/26
The Snow Road Hall Committee has purchased acoustic panels for installation in the Snow Road Hall. The hall is used for public events, monthly concerts, and open mic events, and the panels are designed to absorb some of the sound that bounces off the walls and ceiling of the small building, which was originally a schoolhouse.
At a previous meeting, Councillor Good asked that the committee work with the Chief Building Official (CBO) to make sure that the panels can be safely installed, given that they will be permanently installed.
The CBO, Chris Beeg, came back with a report asking for three conditions to be met before the hall committee is allowed to put the panels up. The first two conditions concern fire safety and mounting details, which both can be provided by the manufacturer of the panels.
But it is the third condition that sparked a debate among council members. It was that a, “third party engineering review of the existing roof/ceiling system and/or design of any structural modification deemed necessary to support the acoustical panels,” be completed before the panels are installed.
Deputy Mayor Huetl wanted to know what the “threshold is, before an engineering review be completed, before something can be hung up in a township hall.”
He said that, “when mistletoe is hung for a Christmas party no review is required, obviously, but when is one required.”
Councillor Hermer said that he is concerned that the township is discouraging a group from fundraising and making improvements to the hall.
Councillor Good said protecting the township from any potential liability if the building is compromised, is a necessity for Council to do.
Councillor Hage proposed deferring the motion until the CBO is able to find out about the roof structure and the actual weight of the panels.
Councillor Inglis then said that what Hage was proposing was outside of what Council should be doing.
“We hired our Chief Building Official, and we need to let him do his job without interference,” he said.
“But we can give instructions to Staff,” said Mayor Lichty.
The CBO, Chris Beeg, who was only hired in September, came to the meeting once this issue came up.
He said that he has requested information about the panels from the hall committee and is waiting to hear from them, and see the panels.
“This is a commercial installation, and requires a third party review, pending receiving information about the details of the product being installed, and the structure of the building where it is being installed,” he said.
Council decided to pass the motion without making any amendments, leaving the matter to be resolved by the CBO and the hall committee.
Donation rescinded
In a move that Mayor Lichty assured Council was not related to the acoustic panels, the Snow Road Committee has informed the township that they have decided to rescind a $5,000 donation to the new roof at the Clar Mil rink. The money will be replaced by drawing down the Build Canada Reserve Fund, which sits at over $1 million currently.
Rental Fees and Rink Board Advertising
Council approved a rental fee structure for the newly covered Clar Mil rink without comment. There was debate, however, about a proposal to waive the first year fee for board advertising for groups that have made significant donations to the rink roof construction project.
The proposal is to offer free large ads to the following groups and individuals: Hockey Moms Association & Ompah Youth Group; Clarendon Miller Community Volunteers; Land O’ Lakes Lions Club; Lookout Home Hardware and; The Huetl Family: and a small ad to the Ompah Community Association.
“I don't see the two things as related” said Councillor Inglis, “were any promises made to the groups?”
Clerk Tara Mieske said that no promises were made but some of the groups understood that they would not have to pay for recognition on rink boards.
Councillor Good said he did not have a problem with giving this to the groups.
The motion passed without further comment.
Community Grants and the Schools
The township has a $10,000 community grants program in place, and council doles out grants from that fund each year to community groups who apply for support.
In addition the township donates $2,000 to the North Addington Education Centre Parent’s Council, and $1,000 to Clarendon Central Parent’s Council
That $1,000 annual donation Clarendon Central was bumped up to $2,000 this year to match the contribution to NAEC, with the second thousand dollars coming from the community grant pot.
This left $9,000 for everyone else to vie for.
A staff motion came forward to the meeting with a proposal to maintain the $2,000 automatic donations to the two parent councils, and keep $9,000 in the community grants program for 2027.
Council debated whether Clarendon Central Parents’ Council could apply for some of that $9,000, even though they will automatically receive $2,000
After some debate, Council decided that they can. They will receive $2,000 in 2027, and can ask for more, in competition with the other groups.
LEAF – Learning and Engagement Accelerator Fund
Council gave leave to Staff to submit an application for $17,500 to the LEAF intake. If successful, the township will purchase bleachers, a sound system, an accessible outhouse, and gravel for the installation of the bleachers and the outhouse. This would be as an added enhancement to the Outdoor Rink/Pickleball courts, at the ClarMil Hall site, in Plevna.
LEAF provides for 100% of the funding for the projects it approves.
Housing Task Force
The final report of the housing task force outlined what the task force has accomplished, and where it has not had an impact, as information for consideration by the new council, should it want to re-establish the task force.
The summary of accomplishments focussed mainly on clarifying the scope of the township's role in promoting affordable housing in the township, which is housing that is available to rent at 80% of market value.
Essentially, the summary made two essential points.
It “determined that North Frontenac is too small to build and maintain affordable housing,” and “decided that we should establish an environment to attract builders and potential homeowners,” to come into the market.
To that end, the task force is recommending that the new council look into holding a housing expo in 2027, and look into developing a 25-year rural development plan.
