South Frontenac Council - Mar 13/12

Wilma Kenny | Mar 15, 2012

Action needed on Portland Waste Disposal Site

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth reported that township staff met last week with representatives of the Ministry of the Environment to discuss the Portland Waste site. An action plan must be submitted at once, identifying contingency measures that might be taken to mitigate the impact that the site is having on the surrounding wetland.

Segsworth recommended that Council agree to contract with the firm AECOM to undertake a preliminary evaluation of the following five alternatives:

1. Partial capping of the site

2. Water level management

3. Onsite treatment

4. Restricting use of site, either to collection vehicles or to the public

5. Site closure.

Questions to be addressed include: What impact would each of these actions have on the environment and the economy? How would the cost of implementation compare to the cost of exporting waste out of the township?

Segsworth added that throughout the course of discussion with the MOE, it has become evident that the hydrology and flow regime of the wetland surrounding the site is not well understood. There seems to be some uncertainty about the direction of water flow away from the site, and a lack of historical record of water quality in the surrounding/upstream area. Recent beaver activity may have enlarged the apparent wetland area. The Quinte Conservation Authority has been supportive of staff in trying to address these issues.

In summary, Segsworth noted: "We have been emphasizing that the township’s approach to sustainability requires a balance of social, economic and environmental perspectives. Any reduction in (the site’s) capacity as a result of implementing any of the contingencies will result in residuals (being) exported out of the township for disposal beyond the short term."

It appears that the present crisis has been precipitated by the MOE having recently changed the site’s certificate of approval from measuring the water quality at the boundary of the property (where there is no contamination) to the toe of the slope.

Councilor Bill Robinson expressed frustration at the situation, saying that he felt it had been largely caused by permitting the other districts to use the Portland site. Councilor Vandewal disagreed, saying that there had not been enough transfer of materials to have made much difference.

Should county’s oversight cost township $20,523?

Treasurer Louise Fragnito presented the final reconciliation of the Sydenham Library project. In order to qualify for partial financing through the Build Canada Fund, the County had applied for the project funding on the township’s behalf. The County agreed to pay the invoices related to the project and then process the claims to receive reimbursement for all eligible expenses from the Build Canada Fund. The township accepted responsibility for expenses over the original budgeted amount.

However, Fragnito reported that the County had failed to submit the final project invoices prior to closing the project, and as a direct result was asking South Frontenac to cover a funding shortfall of $20,523. "We did our part; they did not do theirs," said Councilor Ron Vandewal. "They should pay for their errors." Council’s agreement was unanimous.

Cemeteries in South Frontenac

Acting Recreation Coordinator Angela Maddocks reported on her intent to review and compile information on the processes and record keeping of township cemeteries in order to better provide information to residents.

Three districts, Storrington, Portland and Loughborough have township cemeteries. (Two others, Wilmer and St Patrick’s, are independently owned and managed.) Each has a cemetery board, and each is governed by a separate by-law, with different fee rates for burial plots and related services. Council has directed Maddox to meet with the three committees to discuss developing a common set of fees. She will be asked to report back at the May meeting. Vandewal said that issues related to cremation needed to be addressed: very few use the vault in wintertime. Also, he mentioned that the fees for non-residents might need to be reviewed in relation to prices in neighbouring areas.

Sydenham Lake Association:

Jeff Peck, speaking on behalf of the Sydenham Lake Association, came to seek council’s feedback on the association’s plans to develop a lake capacity study, which could be useful to the township as a decision-making instrument. He noted that much of the necessary information already existed but needed to be brought together.

Peck reviewed the association’s three guiding objectives: community building, lake advocacy and environmental stewardship. "We’re not here to set rules, or take boats off the lake." he said. With over 100 members and solid funding, both private and from the FCFDC, (Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation) the association can be a useful township resource. Council was supportive, while reminding Peck that they had several lake associations in the township: they asked him to stay in communication through CAO Orr.