South Frontenac Council Meeting Nov 17/20

Wilma Kenny | Nov 18, 2020

(Editors note - This article has been altered from the original version. A quote from Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth regarding bag tags on private lanes has been edited out of this version. The original version of the article attributed that quote to the bag tag proposal as a whole. Further edits may take place in consultation with Wilma Kenny- JG)

Council Trashes User Pay Garbage Collection Proposal

A proposal was put forward by the Treasurer Louise Fragnito (and approved by CAO Neil Carbone) recommending that the current provision of 50 bag tags a year for all households be discontinued. Tags would still be required, but residents would be individually responsible for buying their own tags.

The majority of garbage collection costs in the township are recovered through general taxation, applied to all properties regardless of collection need or type of residency, and the staff recommendation is based on the intention to move to a user pay system in time.
The report recommended that the township begin by charging only $1 for bag tags instead of the current $2 (for tags beyond the 50 free ones that residents currently receive), even though, tags would need to be priced at $1.90 in order for the revenue to cover the entire cost of garbage collection.

“Staff is recommending a transition period for residents by starting the user pay system in March of 2021 with a selling price of $1 per tag, resulting in 50% cost recovery for the waste collection program initially. This would provide time for residents to adapt to the new system and allow staff to review and update the model based on actual tag sale volumes/revenues, waste diversion impacts, and resident habits that may change as a result of the program,” Fragnito wrote.

Existing bag tags would be honoured for a period of time.

Councillor Sleeth was the first to comment on the proposal.

“I am opposed (to the proposed change): the current system works. The cost of garbage is included in the tax base, there are no complaints, leave it alone.”

One by one, all members of Council agreed with Sleeth.

Councillor Revill pointed out that the question was never brought to the committee level for discussion. He and Councillor Sutherland had both had a lot of calls and emails from residents who were opposed to the change. Sutherland and Councillor Ruttan underlined the need to try to find more aggressive ways of diverting organic waste from landfills.

All Council members agreed on the importance of continuing to seek more ways of reducing household garbage, but emphasized that this is definitely not the time to ask residents for more money.

Councillor Roberts asked for a recorded vote.

Mayor Vandewal said that, although it was not widely publicized, if a household had special needs, they could request extra free tags. “Overall, the system works well.”

In a vote of 9-0, the staff proposal was rejected by Council.

Deputy Mayor Appointments

At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Vandewal had welcomed Councillor Pat Barr who participated online: she had just arrived home, in recuperation from a long illness.

Although Councillor Pat Barr was to have been sworn in as Deputy Mayor for 2020-21, and Councillor Ray Leonard for 2021-22, they have asked Council’s approval for Leonard to take the first half of 2021-22, to allow Barr more time to recuperate. They will reassess in May ’22 to decide whether Barr will take over then, or Leonard will continue until the end of the year. Since Barr and Leonard are in agreement, Council is willing to follow their wishes.

Traffic Safety Zones

A By-law proposing the establishment of Community Safety Zones on main roads in front of Township schools was deferred by Council, due to lack of statistics to support the need for stricter enforcement and higher fines.

Marjorie Shannon of Battersea turns 100

Councillor Sleeth announced that November 18 is Ms Shannon’s 100th birthday: she has received best wishes from the Queen, the Governor General and the Township. Sleeth described her as “a very up-to-date person.”