South Frontenac Council - Mar. 27

Wilma Kenny | Mar 29, 2012

Portland Waste Disposal Site Action Plan

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth shared a copy of his recent letter to the Ministry of the Environment concerning the Portland waste site. In it, he states that he intends to work with the Quinte Conservation Authority to define the hydrology of the wetlands and to establish a surface water monitoring station by the first of June.

Although it will require a full year to complete a comprehensive wetland study that can take all seasonal variations into account, given the ministry’s demands for expediency, Segsworth told the Ministry that the township will produce an overview in six months.

Also, five alternatives will be evaluated, both as independent solutions and in combination. These are: 1) Water level management; 2) Restricting use of site; 3) Partial capping of site; 4) Onsite treatment; 5) Site closure.

Segsworth repeats that the township’s approach to sustainability requires a balance of social, economic and environmental perspectives, and that any reduction in capacity at the Portland site will result in residuals being exported out of the township for disposal.

The intent of this preliminary evaluation is to narrow down the five alternatives, and give the rationale for doing so. The report will include plans for any further field work required, and set a time frame for selection and implementation of the preferred alternative.

Segsworth proposes that this preliminary assessment could be completed by the end of June, if the MOE agrees with the plan as outlined.

Costs of defending township’s decisions at OMB

Planner Lindsay Mills drew Council’s attention to a section in the township’s planning application which, if not enforced, could cost the taxpayers many thousands of dollars a year.

This happens when either Council or the Committee of Adjustment has approved an application, and the decision is appealed to the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board) by a neighboring property owner. The resultant costs for legal fees, expert witnesses, etc, to defend the township’s decision can run from $6,000 up to substantially more.

Although only the applicant/developer benefits from these expenses, up until now, the township (ie the taxpayers) has paid the costs. However, Mills pointed out, there is a clause in the planning application that requires the applicant to promise to pay any costs incurred by an appeal to the OMB. To date, the township has no procedure for recovering these costs. Mills suggested that a substantial deposit on he submission of planning applications might be one means to address this.

Council directed Mills to recommend how this might be worded, and bring it back to them.

Chief building inspector retires

In a letter to Council, recently retired Chief Building Inspector Alan Revill commented very positively on his 11 years with the township, and thanked Council for his retirement celebration. Jeremy Neven, who was formerly the building inspector for Central Frontenac Township, has been hired as Revill’s replacement.