South Frontenac Council - Nov. 5

Wilma Kenny | Jun 01, 2012

CEO and Mayor Ignore Usual Process: Contractor Quits

Councillor Ron Vandewal, Chair of the Loughborough Cemetery Board, told Council that he thought the appropriate procedure had not been followed when CAO Wayne Orr and Mayor Davison met directly with the cemetery caretaker, Percy Snider, without informing the cemetery board.

Although as CAO, Orr is ultimately responsible for the satisfactory delivery of all township services, Vandewal pointed out that in practice the cemetery board has for many years heard complaints and negotiated solutions.

This system has worked well, with a good record of conflict resolution, he said. Vandewal said that he knew nothing about the recent issues until Wayne Orr phoned to inform him that the meeting had taken place, and that as a result Percy Snider has resigned from his contract.

“If we’re going to have committees, we have to trust them to do their job,” said Vandewal. “What about the recreation committees: are they going to be left out of recreation issues?” he asked

Vandewal then said he might resign from the cemetery committee.

“Are you going to resign or not?” asked Mayor Davison.

“I’ll think it over, and talk to you tomorrow,” replied Vandewal.

Councillor Naish then made a motion for Council to go in camera “to discuss personnel issues.”

E-Waste To Keeley Road Site

Council passed a motion to accept E-waste only at the Keeley Road household hazardous waste depot, and only on Thursdays, when the hazardous waste depot is open. Until now, the Township has been collecting E-waste at Portland, Loughborough, Salem and Bradshaw waste disposal sites.

In 2011, it cost the township $30,000 to dispose of E-waste, and Ontario Electronic Stewardship has agreed to dispose of all E-waste from Keeley Road at no cost to the township.

Several councillors said that the Keeley Road site was a long drive for residents of Portland and Bedford, though no complaints were voiced by Storrington representatives. Councillors Naish and Vandewal said that conscientious people would be willing to comply, and Councillor Stowe noted that people seemed already willing to make a trip or two a year to bring in hazardous waste.

Councillor Robinson remained opposed, saying that he doubted there were many conscientious people, adding that Bellrock residents would not want to drive over to Keeley Road on Thursday afternoons or evenings, the only time the site is open. Councillor Tinlin asked whether the Keeley Road hours could perhaps be extended: presently the site is open from 3 pm to 8 pm on Thursdays when specially trained staff are on hand to deal with the hazardous waste.

This motion had been deferred at the previous meeting, pending more information about conflict of interest, in relation to Councillor Robinson’s role in the E-waste discussion. Council’s information package included six pages from the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, but there was no further discussion of the issue.

Hinchinbrooke Road sight lines

A motion to deny rezoning of a property on Hinchinbrooke Road from rural to special commercial was deferred pending further information. The property owner, Steve Hayes, restores antique British sports cars, and needs rezoning if he is to be permitted to carry out automobile safety inspections on the vehicles. Planner Lindsay Mills recommended against the zone change, on the grounds that in spite of the property’s 450 foot frontage, there is no place for safe road access. Mr. Hayes has proposed widening the entrance presently existing near the south end of the property.

As there is no posted speed limit on the road, the speed limit is 80 km/hr.

Councillor Stowe asked whether the speed limit could be revisited.

“Would there be an acceptable line of sight if the speed was posted at 60?” he asked. Public Works Manager Segsworth agreed to look into this. This hilly, winding road may carry extra traffic when the bridge on 38 at the south end of Verona is being reconstructed this fall.