Central Frontenac Council - Jan 27/09

Jeff Green | Jan 27, 2009

Council does not concur with Rogers over Tower

Rogers Communications would like to put up a cell phone tower at Harold Burke Road and Highway 7, on property that is owned by the Ministry of Transportation.

They sent a letter to the township asking for a “statement of concurrence” but the townships’ planner, Glenn Tunnock, recommended that the township refrain from providing the statement because Rogers refused the townships request that a site plan be prepared for the tower.

Rogers said they are not obligated to do anything more than they’ve done.

Interim Township Chief Administrative Officer Cathy MacMunn said that when “Bell Canada put their tower in, they did seek an agreement with us. They didn’t have to, but they did. Rogers has not seemed interested in even consulting with us at all.”

Council decided to heed Glenn Tunnock’s advice and passed a motion to turn down Roger’s request at this time.

Hall repairs -

Chief Building Officer Ian Trickett appeared before Council to discuss the Parham Fire Hall as well as the Oso and Kennebec Community Halls.

He reported that the roof repair at the Parham Fire Hall has been proceeding, but will not be completed until the weather warms up.

“The repairs that have already been done are sound,” he said.

The Oso Hall has been damaged in recent days due to frozen pipes and flooding. Trickett said the problem is two-fold.

“The pipes froze because the overhead radiant heaters were left on after someone left the hall. That meant the furnace did not come on and the pipes froze in the basement.”

Tricket said that the controls for the radiant heater have now been locked, and the burst pipes and damaged bathroom floor have been repaired. All of this cost $1,000.

Trickett also pointed out that the water pump and tank are not properly installed and are located next to an external door that lets cold air pour in. He recommended moving the water system to an internal room where the furnace is located.

Council accepted the recommendation.

As to the Kennebec Hall, which was the subject of an angry letter to Council two weeks ago, Trickett said the foul smell in the Hall is due to an un-vented, inadequate plumbing system, which needs replacing in the spring. He also talked about other work that is required at the hall as soon as possible.

“Any plumbing that we do, any construction that we do on the Halls, requires permits. We cannot tell other people to get permits if we don’t get them ourselves,” Trickett added.

2008 construction down marginally –

Final construction figures for 2008 show that total construction in the township was valued at $7.07 million in 2008, down from $7.35 million in 2007 and 7.34 million in 2006

Household Hazardous Waste Day – The township will be holding a hazardous waste recycling day on July 25th. The date had to be booked because the company that provides the service is very busy this coming summer. The location of the hazardous waste depot is yet to be determined.

Surplus equipment donated – A surplus 1975 Pumper, the first one used by the Oso Fire department, is going out of service and will be given to the Oso Volunteer Firefighters Association for use in parades, etc. An old Webber Extrication Spreader and Power unit will be donated to the Cavendish, Newfoundland Fire Department.

Controversial, yes, but Guntensperger to represent Township at PARC

The Limestone District School Board requested that Council name a representative to its northern schools Program and Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) which will be meeting over the next few months to determine the future of schools in Sharbot Lake, Parham, Mountain Grove, and Plevna.

Deputy Mayor Gary Smith recommended Councillor Norm Guntensperger, a teacher at Land O’ Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove, as the Council representative.

Guntensperger said he was prepared to put his name forward.

“I looked at this and I don’t se a conflict of interest in me standing for this role. The PARC cannot have an impact on my job, except it could come out that I had to teach somewhere else, but I cannot lose my job because of it.”

“I have concerns about a vested interest,” said Councillor Bob Harvey. The school already has a principal and a teacher on the PARC, so why should we be putting another teacher there.”

“I hate to disqualify him, because of his intelligence and his background,” said Gary Smith. “I think he’s be passionate about it. He’d show up to meetings.”

“I do believe that the public would think that a school teacher would have a vested interest,” said Mayor Gutowski. “I must say that I am disappointed that we don’t have another member of Council stepping forward. I would like to say that I would commit to this. I am sorry but I cannot do everything on your behalf. Perhaps you all need to think it through further.”

Councillor Philip Smith then piped in.

“Saying none of is passionate about this is unfair” he said. “I’m very passionate but I think Norm would be the best representative of this council.”

With no one else running, Norm Guntensperger was chosen as the township rep to the PARC.