South Frontenac Council - Nov 15/11

Wilma Kenny | Nov 17, 2011

New & Improved

In order to further streamline council agendas, CAO Orr recommended that the Public Works Manager be given authority to approve routine temporary boat ramp and road closures for parades, festivals and community events. Council agreed, though Councillor Vandewal made it clear that Councillors will need to be kept informed of these closures.

The necessary road closures were approved for the Sydenham (Sat Nov 26, 10 am) and Harrowsmith (Sat Dec 3, 10 am) Santa parades.

Procurement Policy

Council approved a new procurement by-law which simplifies policy goals and clarifies the process of purchasing materials, supplies and services for the township. New limits are established: a)purchases up to a value of $150. are exempt from the policy, b) Purchases up to $5000 may be purchased from a Vendor of Record (VOR), or if there is none, from the lowest of three quotes., c) purchases between $5,000 and $25,000 may be made from a VOR or a through request for quotes, and d) purchases exceeding $25,000 shall require a request for tender or proposal. Details of this nine-page policy may be viewed on the township’s website.

Drinking Water Source Protection

Council received draft policies from the three Conservation Authorities that cover the township: Cataraqui Region, Rideau Valley and Quinte. Township Planner Lindsay Mills pointed out that the township had no aquifers that qualified as “highly vulnerable’, and therefore posing significant threats to the quality of drinking water. He went on to say that although the proposed policies and programs are all good ones, they would require a great amount of staff time and municipal expense to implement. He asked Council to provide guidance. In general, the main threats to drinking water aquifers are road salts and septic systems.

Sydenham Subdivision Nearing Final Stages

Mills reported that RKR Landholdings are working to get final approval to proceed with ‘Valleyview Estates’, off Rutledge Road in the village of Sydenham. The township is preparing to enter into a pre-service agreement, as the next stage of the process.

Donations to Firefighters’ Associations

Portland District Community Caring, a small non-profit group that accepts donations of clothing,household items, etc, and resells them for very modest amounts, has donated $2,000 to be shared equally between the Firefighters Associations of Loughborough and Portland, for the purchase of uniforms, batteries, flashlights, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Pumper Truck Damaged

Mayor Davison reported that a South Frontenac pumper truck had recently been forced off the road and damaged. The vehicle is being transported to Winnipeg for repairs, and a temporary replacement has been found. As the accident was not the fault of the township, full costs of the repair have been covered by insurance.