South Frontenac Council

Wilma Kenny | Mar 23, 2022

Southern Frontenac Community Services Update

David Townsend, Executive Director of Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCS) appeared via Zoom, to report on the progress of the financing and construction phases of the Grace Centre expansion. Architect Todd Colborne has completed the floor plans, and is currently working on the site plan; the final cost analysis is expected to be done within a week. The documents necessary for construction permits, and tendering will follow.

“With any luck, we anticipate construction will begin the end of June, allowing nine months to reach substantial completion, with final completion mid-May, 2023.”

Townsend admitted these were tight timelines, but necessary to meet the conditions of “another quarter-million dollar grant I cannot discuss publicly yet, but which must be spent by March, 2023.

The Township’s generous contribution has helped to bring in others, and we are about to launch the public campaign.”

SFCS plans to hold engagement events in Portland, Storrington and Loughborough for public feedback and to share more information about the services they provide throughout South Frontenac.

Mayor Vandewal thanked him for the update, and was reassured by Townsend that the architect feels the construction price is still in line with the cost estimate.

Climate Change Actions

Councillor Sutherland filed a notice of motion to include a climate change/adaptation assessment section to be incorporated within the staff reports. Such an assessment would describe how the subject matter of the report moves the Township towards zero greenhouse gas emissions, and comment on how it enhances the Township’s resilience to climate change.

Mayor Vandewal said he had no objection to the motion, but felt that perhaps the public has not been kept aware of the steps the Township has been making toward addressing climate-related concerns. Over the past several years, all the Township’s street and facility lighting has been changed to cast light downward; the arena retrofit and the Perth Road firehall both accomplished a high degree of energy efficiency: “We even have an electric Zamboni; I think we’ve underestimated how much we’ve been doing to address climate issues in the past ten years.” Both Ruttan and Sleeth agreed that “This is a secret we need to get out there.”

Acting CAO Fragnito reminded Council that a draft Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation Strategy will be coming before Council in late June, which will help highlight the Township’s actions related to Climate change.

Monitoring and Enforcement of Site Plans

Deputy Mayor Revill brought notice of motion asking that the Director of Development Services prepare a report for Council to outline what Department staff will be involved in monitoring and enforcing the site plans and any other condominium conditions for Johnston Point and further to assess our staff capacity to carry out those duties not only for Johnston Point, but other ongoing development work. The motion passed but Mayor Vandewal commented that although he did not disagree with the motion, it surprised him that it should be seen as necessary, since Council had just approved the creation of two staff positions to address these concerns: a deputy clerk to develop bylaws and procedures and a planning compliance staff member; “And now we’re asking who will do it?”

Desert Lake Resort Noise By-law Exemption

Council passed Desert Lake Resort’s request for a noise by-law exemption on July 1&30, Aug 13 and Sept 3, but shortened to end time to 10:30, instead of the requested 11:00 pm. Mayor Vandewal said that this had become an annual request, and “They have been very responsible; there have been no complaints so it seems somewhat childish to make them keep coming back for permission every year.” Sutherland agreed, suggesting that perhaps next year, the clerk could direct them to make a more general request to cover 3 or 4 more years.

Electronic Participation in Council Meetings

Council passed a by-law to permanently allow for electronic participation in Council and COW meetings. Due to ongoing uncertainty with respect to the pandemic and spacing requirements in Council Chambers, the use of virtual attendance by members of the public will remain in place but will be reassessed in three months time.

In Camera COW

A closed COW meeting was held March 17, primarily to deal with the selection process for the permanent CAO position.