This is a brief report to HIRA members and others on the Township of Frontenac Islands Council Meeting held Monday, January 14, 2019 at the Township offices on Wolfe Island. One of our directors attended the meeting. Only matters of particular reference to Howe Island or of general interest are highlighted here.
- A report on severances in the Township was tabled by the Township Planner. With respect to severance applications, it is generally the case that the Township will require the applicant to dedicate a certain portion of the land to parkland or require cash-in- lieu. The cash-in-lieu is generally 5% of the land value for residential land and 2% for other land. For Frontenac Islands, the levy is 5% of two thirds the land value for residential water-front and $1000 for residential non-waterfront. For details on severances, the Township Planning Department should be contacted.
- Public Works Manager Rob Dillabough tabled a report on actions pending on both Wolfe and Howe Islands. For Howe, under Marine Services Division, the pending work to be on-going in 2019 is foot ferry dock rehabilitation and ferry operator training courses on marine VHF radio and marine emergency duties. Under the Roads Division, Rob is preparing budgets (a) for Spithead Road re-construction,(b) for the North Shore Road maintenance ditching program (understood to be only for the portion of the Road from Howe Island Drive to the Lower Side Road), (c) for Howe Island Drive south of Baseline Road, and (d) for Baseline Road south side.
- Darlene Plumley, Chief Administrative Officer and Clerk table a report of actions pending on both Wolfe and Howe. For Howe, the only action pending is research into cameras for the ferry docks with the status being described as ‘research into the costs and connectivity ongoing’. Deputy Mayor Higgs suggested to Council that the MTO be approached to determine if they will fund the cameras and associated costs for cameras at the four ferry terminals. (Cameras would be internet connected to give ferry users a remote real-time view of both ferries and line-ups). Council agreed that the MTO will be approached by or on behalf of Council but that staff will continue with its own research on costs. With further budget meetings scheduled, a question was raised from the floor whether the Council’s research on costs will be available to Council at its next budget meeting on January 30, 2019 so that it can include cameras in the budget this year. The CAO said that she hoped it would be completed. Councilor Zborovsky from Wolfe Island indicated his support for cameras.
- Council indicated that there will be four Council appointed Committees for Howe Island each with at least one Councilor on each Committee: a) Fire Services and b) Parks and Recreation supported by Councilor MacDougall; and c) Ferry Transportation Services and d) Waste Management supported by Deputy Higgs. It was mentioned at the meeting that the make-up of each Committee should be limited to between 5 and 7 members. The Council will be seeking volunteers to serve on the Committees by a public notice in early February. Terms of reference for each Committee will be set by Council. It was made clear that the terms of reference for the Ferry Committee are to include both ferries. Each Committee’s role will be to advise and make recommendations to Council.
- The next Council Priority and Budget Setting Meeting will be held on Wolfe Island on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at 2:30 pm at the Township Offices. The next regular meeting of Council is scheduled for Monday, February 11, 2019 at 6:30 pm at the Howe Island Township offices.