South Frontenac Council Meeting, Nov 3

Wilma Kenny | Nov 04, 2020

(As you will have read, our printer has changed the deadline for Frontenac News to Monday.

And a bonus treat for you, the reader: this change introduces elements of suspense, time-warp and mystery into my Council report: what you now have in your hands on Thursday Nov 5 is an outline of the items South Frontenac Council was planning to discuss on Tuesday November 3rd. But how did it all turn out? What did they decide? Did tempers flare? Were desks thumped?

You can find the answers now, posted online at Frontenac News, and/or read them in next week’s paper, when we will also be bringing you yet another cliff-hanger episode of: South Frontenac Council — What Will They Do Next?)

Two (virtual) public meetings are scheduled: the first is to consider an application request from owners Carl and Joan Sortberg to rezone two parcels of land on New Morin Road which lie partially within in the Knowlton Lake watershed, in order to permit residential development.

Knowlton Lake is classified as an at-capacity (for development) lake trout lake. This means no more subsurface sewage systems can be located in the Knowlton watershed. However, Section 5.2.8(a) of the Township’s Official Plan specifies special or unique circumstances where Council may consider the creation of new lots within 300 metres of an at-capacity lake trout lake, in consultation with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). Although the lots in question are within 300 metres of Knowlton Lake, they are also on a drainage divide between the Wilton Creek watershed and the Knowlton Lake sub-watershed. The requested RU-59 zoning will require any sewage systems on the parcels to be located a minimum of 40 metres setback from the front lot line, on that portion of the land which is in the Wilton Creek watershed.

MECP, Cataraqui Conservation, and KFL&A Public Health have no objections to this application.

The second public meeting is to receive comments about a plan to rezone lands on Pine Point Lane, Storrington (on Dog Lake) from Rural to Limited Service Residential — Waterfront in order to enable development on waterfront properties that are accessed by a private lane. There are no objections from the Health Unit, Parks Canada or the CRCA. One resident, Mike McCall, has requested a similar zone change on his property, which lies within the proposed development area.

Tender and Financing of Multipurpose Facility at Centennial Park, Harrowsmith

A report prepared by Mark Segsworth, Public Works Manager, recommends Council accept the bid of $140,000. from Wemp &Smith Construction for installation of this facility. This bid, lower by $100,000 than the only other bid received, is still $40,000. over the $100,000 budgeted for the project.(a combination of $15,000 raised by the Stocksport Club, and $85,0000 from Development Charges.) An additional $20,000 was anonymously donated, and Segsworth is further recommending that Council approve reallocating the remaining $20,000 from the Storrington Centre renovations, which came in $48,000 under budget. Staff does not feel that reduced pricing would be likely if the project were to be deferred and re-tendered in 2021.

Potential Delivery of On-site Sewage System Services for Frontenac Townships

In January 2020, Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health announced their intent to no longer carry out their responsibilities for sewage systems under the Ontario Building Code Act (OBC) and associated regulations effective January 1, 2021.

In response, South Frontenac has hired a Deputy Chief Building Official who will be able to provide these services in-house. Staff discussions with the other three Frontenac Townships indicate that none of them have a sufficient volume of developments to justify creating a similar position, but together the total workload would support the hiring of a single inspector.

CAO Carbone is bringing a recommendation to Council that South Frontenac Township consider hiring an additional staff member to deliver sewage system planning and inspection services to the other three Frontenac Townships. This would allow for coordination with other inspections, make use of South Frontenac’s land management software system, improve alignment with municipal planning services, timelines and approvals, create the potential for backfilling and coverage during inspector absences, and in general be more cost-effective.

If South Frontenac were to deliver this service, all costs would be covered through fees-for-service paid directly to South Frontenac, resulting in no additional burden on Township taxpayers.

If Council supports this suggestion, it would have to be subject to the approval of the other Townships, as outlined in a Municipal Services Agreement.

Recreation Department Recommendation

As part of the 2020 Budget Council approved $30,000 to hire a consultant for a comprehensive review of all recreation and leisure services within the Township, and development of a multi-year Recreation, Parks and Leisure Master Plan. Further discussion with both the Recreation and Leisure Facilities Committee and the Program and Events Committee has led to a more comprehensive set of objectives and a considerably increased scope of work than initially anticipated.

A committee composed of The Township staff and the Chairs of the two Recreation Committees reviewed and ranked five consultant proposals, most of which came in well over the initial budget. Recreation Supervisor Tim Laprade, and Program, Events and Education Coordinator Amanda Pantrey are recommending to Council that the contract be awarded to thinc design, in the amount of $58,545, with the additional cost to be funded from Development Charges.

2021 Revised Budget Cycle

In order to provide time to accommodate updated information from MPAC and resulting potential service delivery changes and associated financial impacts, the 2021 budget cycle has been generally extended another two months: The budget direction will be presented Nov 10, the full budget document will be tabled Dec 15, delegations on the budget document have been moved to Jan 12, and final budget approval will be arrived at some time between January 26 and Feb 16, depending on the amount of debate required.

Bylaws

#2020-24: If this passes, Shield Shores’ four lanes will be finally and officially named to everyone’s satisfaction.

#2020-61: In June of 2020 Council approved the creation of a Deputy Chief Building Official position within the Development Services Department. This position was intended to address increasing workloads largely associated with the assumption of Part 8 services from KFL&A Public Health, (relating to septic system applications/inspections/approvals) and to support succession planning within the department.

In October, Rebecca Roy was hired as the Township’s new Deputy CBO. Ms Roy has over 10 years experience as a building official in Eastern Ontario including time as a Deputy CBO with the Town of Greater Napanee. In accordance with the Ontario Building Code Act, a By-law is required to formally appoint her to the position in order to grant her the powers of acting CBO.

January Council and Committee of the Whole meeting dates

The January 2021 Council meetings will be January 12 and 26 and the Committee of the Whole meeting will be January 19, 2021. February will return to the regular scheduling, with the first Council meeting Feb 2.