Notes from South Frontenac Council

Jeff Green | Mar 19, 2025

(South Frontenac Council met on March 11. The recording of the meeting was not available this time, because of technical glitches. This report is base on the agenda and draft minutes from the meeting.)

Mike Vilneff, of the Loomis Consulting group, made a presentation regarding the 2025 Fire Master Plan that Loomis is working on for the township. By engaging Council, staff, the fire department, residents, and businesses, the project intends to look at the current and anticipated
fire protection needs in the township, assess the current operation, and provide strategies and recommendations for enhancing the service going forward.

Council also received the annual summary report on the operation of the Sydenham Water Treatment Plant, from Heather Roberts from Utilities Kingston.

Council designated 5 days throughout the year as municipally significant events in order to allow for the sale of alcohol at the Frontenac Farmers Market, in addition to another 10 market days under the Kick and Push Brewery Catering Endorsement license. As well, the Summer
Kickoff Music Festival on May 24th and the Open Farms Kickoff event on September 5, will be licensed.

Council also approved a long motion brought forward by the Recreation and Leisure Services Committee to direct township staff to review all events scheduled in 2025, “to assess their effectiveness and determine if any ones could be included, for example, movies in the park in Battersea, Sydenham, and Harrowsmith”.

The motion also asked staff to report back to the committee with event recommendations and resource impacts.

This report is to include an annual event roster with “an estimate of the ideal number of events the township can do with the current staff and what, if any resources would be required for the township to consider new events.”

Through bylaw, Brad Smith was appointed as Deputy Fire Chief, and Stephanie Kuca was appointed as Treasurer.

Council Remuneration – Mayor Vandewal received an honorarium of just under $35,000, councillors Leonard and Morey (who served ½ year terms as Deputy Mayor) – $21,200. The remaining members of council received $17,600 except Councillor Turcotte, who received $16,120.

Council members, including the mayor, received pay for designated meetings they attended, as well as mileage, conference per diems, and a communications allowance of $1,200 per year. The total remuneration ranged from
a low of $18,785 for Councillor Trueman, to a high of $45,800 for the mayor. The total pay for council as a whole was $228,632.