Second June Council meeting update
The regularly scheduled June 20 Council meeting opened with a public meeting portion to address a request from Edwin Duncan – father of MP Eric Duncan, and now-retired owner of the former trucking business, JED Express in South Mountain. Edwin is requesting to convert the house on his property at 11060 County Road 3 to an multi-residential unit with up to 6 units. Council heard that studies are underway to ensure that the well and septic capacities on the property will be sufficient to support the additional units.
Council was very receptive to the idea, particularly Deputy Mayor Theresa Bergeron, who lives nearby. Council had its first and second reading of the motion later in the meeting. No decisions have yet been made because North Dundas Council is awaiting an Official Plan amendment from the upper tier Counties Council, as well as a public consultation period.
Council next heard a general crimes report, which identified issues such as vehicles going past school buses with lights flashing, and an increase in frauds both locally and nationally. Much discussion ensued regarding these issues. Another delegation came next, this one from internet company Xplore, which hopes to expand the scope of its services in the area.
North Dundas’ Fire Chief – Kreg Raistrick – then made a request to Council to tighten up the facial hair policy for local firefighters. The intention of the policy would be to protect firefighters by ensuring that breathing masks have a tighter fit. Councillor John Lennox raised an important question – how would this new policy be enforced with firefighters already hired and working. After Chief Raistrick explained that the policy will be gradually introduced, with an emphasis on its benefit to firefighters, the motion was carried.
Council next approved a request from the local Lactalis plant to install “No Truck Route” signs on Centre St, Dufferin St. E, and North St in Winchester, due to recent instances of damage being caused by trucks using an incorrect route. This was approved.
Council was then tasked with deciding whether to award a tender for consulting services related to the provision of a Recreation Strategic Plan. Township staff recommended approving the tender, and Deputy Mayor Bergeron agreed. Councillor Matthew Uhrig agreed as well, saying the consultation is needed to “beat back some of the tall tales, hearsay, or just frankly absolute lies that are kind of spreading through our community right now in terms of… our infrastructure and what’s taking place and what’s happening… it should be of no surprise to anybody that we do have significant needs, and we need to address those significant needs… and this is a big step in that process.”
Councillors Lennox and Annable agreed with the Deputy Mayor and Councillor Uhrig. Council moved to award the tender. Council then heard about some of the other recreation and culture needs in the near future, particularly maintenance costs for recreation buildings and equipment. It was acknowledged in the report to Council that there is simply not enough money in the budget for the many different needs. Rather than looking for approvals to finance countless different projects, the Recreation and Culture department was simply seeking feedback and general thoughts from members of Council.
Mayor Tony Fraser commented that it’s best to consider the maintenance advice that is given, rather than continually putting off the work. Councillor Lennox stated his desire to always know “where the money is coming from” before making decisions, and he also touted the value of a “cost-benefit analysis” for each decision. Councillor Uhrig pointed out that it is important for members of the public to see the difficulty of these pressing issues facing Council.
More routine items were discussed in the last portion of the meeting, including the removal and replacement of sidewalks, and the installation of speed radar signs (to encourage drivers to slow down within residential areas).
The last major item on the agenda was the expansion of local wetland mapping, which is raising concerns for some about the effect that this will have on farmers and in fact, anyone who wants to build on their property. The Township’s Director of Development Services, Calvin Pol, explained that the Township intends to ask more questions of South Nation Conservation to ensure that the modified and increased wetland mapping makes sense. “Wow,” said Mayor Fraser regarding the news of the mapping change. “Pretty big news”. The revelation also means that since the Boyne Road Landfill would be re-designated as a wetland, meaning that the Township would need approvals from South Nation Conservation before putting garbage on the site.
The meeting ended after just under two-and-a-half hours.
