South Frontenac Council - Apr. 27/10

Wilma Kenny | Apr 29, 2010

Strong Support for Verona Medical Centre

In February, John McDougall came to Council on behalf of the Verona and District Health Services Committee of the Verona Community Association. He spoke of the Verona community’s decision to purchase the Verona Medical Centre as an incentive to attract a doctor who would take over the clinic on Dr. Dempsey’s pending retirement. McDougall noted that the province’s discontinuation of the rural doctor incentive package has added to the difficulty of attracting a doctor to the Verona clinic, which serves 2200 South Frontenac residents. One of the possibilities raised in that discussion was the development of a township health services support policy.

This week, McDougall, Don Coleman and Jim Lansdell returned to hear Council’s discussion of their proposal that the township assume ownership of the medical centre, with all expenses being covered by a lease negotiated with the doctor or doctors.

Council was unanimous in their support of the general concept, and directed the CAO to bring a detailed report on the various issues and details that would need to be addressed. All agreed that the present community association would not be expected to manage the building.

McDougall was delighted that council also seemed willing to consider matching community fundraising dollar for dollar. Tax receipts would be issued through the township. The topic of the Verona Clinic will be brought to a regular council meeting for formal decisions.

Assistance Program for Upgrading Private Lanes

Public Works Manager Segsworth advised that the township’s assistance program for upgrading private lanes had been successful, but not heavily used last year. He recommended it be repeated this year. Under the program, resident associations that apply to the township may have up to 50% of their road upgrading expenses refunded. Applicant roads will be inspected both before and after the work is done, and the roadwork has to have been fully paid for before the rebate will be issued. Segsworth emphasised that the purpose of the program is to make private lanes safely accessible to emergency vehicles, and priority will be given to those most in need of improvement. The program is for shared lanes, not driveways. Councilor Robinson expressed disapproval of the program, saying that often, some residents along a lane are unwilling to share the costs of roadwork. “We’re biting off more than we can chew,” he said.

Segsworth said the township left sharing of costs up to the road associations to sort out, and repeated that all work had to be fully completed as agreed, and paid for, before the township would give the rebate. Application deadline is July 9; complete program details are on the township website.

Annual report re waste disposal sites

Guy LaPorte of AECOM presented his annual review of the township’s waste disposal sites. All sites are environmentally monitored: the MOE has shown particular concern about the surface water impact of the Portland site, referring to it as “an island of waste.’ Deputy Mayor Vandewal reminded Council that they had agreed to set up a brush disposal site, but had not done so yet.