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This is a brief report HIRA to members and others on the Township of Frontenac Islands Council Meeting held on June 25, 2019 at the Township Offices on Howe Island. One of our Directors attended the meeting. Only matters of particular reference to Howe Island or of general interest are highlighted here. This meeting was originally scheduled for June 10, 2019 but was rescheduled when the Wolfe Island Councilors could not get to Howe because of mechanical breakdown of the County ferry. The Council offices were full to capacity with some standing in the hall.

1. Planning: An application for variance to a building permit for an accessory structure at 365 North Shore Road was granted. Deputy Mayor Higgs abstained from voting.
2. School Bus Transportation: Rosa Hession, a Howe Island resident, put forward a passionate presentation concerning school children transportation and the need to continue to support ferry loading priority now given to school buses. Her presentation emphasized supporting the education of school children who must travel off Island for their education. She informed Council that there will be now three buses (rather than four) now that one student will no longer require bus transport. She cautioned the Council and the public against taking pictures of the buses without permission of parents of the children riding the buses.
3. Ferries: Bill Worona, one of the HIRA directors, made a presentation on concerns related to ferry issues and high water level issues:
   1. It is obvious to all that the County ferry drive system is over stressed- what is the Council doing about it.
   2. The concrete blocks now in place on the County ferry should be stacked to allow maximum space for vehicles.
   3. Loading and unloading can still be improved. Isn’t it time for a load master year round?
   4. It is understood that a new and improved e-mail and twitter system is to come into play soon however, not everyone has access to these tools. There are visitors to the Island who are unaware of the protocols. When the ferry shuts down for emergency reasons, operators should ensure that those waiting to board are informed.
   5. Ferry users are still waiting for real time cameras at each ferry terminal to be installed. HIRA requested cameras over two years ago.
   6. Road makings to identify the 15 car mark would be helpful.
   7. Portable toilet at the P for Park on the Island side would be beneficial; it has been removed. Why?
   8. Investigate changing the maintenance period during the time the Township ferry is on a modified schedule.
   9. Modify the ramps on the Township ferry since the high water and angle is dangerous.
   10. The mandate for the promised Council appointed ferry advisory committee provides for five members, two of which are Councilors and three of which are residents with the chair being one of the Councilors. The mandate limits meetings to four per year. Why? Suggest the chair be chosen by the committee. Suggest a summer student be hired to analyze data collected by ferry operators.
   11. Use debit of credit cards to pay the ferry transportation.
4. Report by the Public Works Manager: The PWM reported that the hot patch road repair on North Shore Road, Lower Side Road and Spithead will be continuing. North Shore Road ditches will be completed by the end of July. Road edging on Howe will take place after Wolfe is complete.
5. Weed Spraying: Is to commence on June 26, 2019.
6. Howe Island Fire and Rescue: Council concurred with Chief Quinn on continuing to do research on achieving greater energy efficiency within the fire hall.
7. Ferry Committee: The Council moved into closed session to pick from three applicants   for the ferry Committee. When Council returned to open session, Council announced that it was cancelling the appointment of a Ferry Committee in favor of continued Delegation submissions and the institution of a suggestion box to gather ideas for the benefit of Howe Island !!

A HIRA Briefing Note-May 14, 2019

Reminder: Pancake Breakfast Monday, May 20, 2019. 8:30 am to 11:30 am.

St Philomena’s Hall

This is a brief report to HIRA members and others on the Township of Frontenac Islands Council Meeting which took place on Monday May 13, 2019 at the Township Offices on Wolfe Island. One of the HIRA directors attended the meeting. Only matters of particular reference to Howe Island or of general interest are highlighted here.

1. Public Works Manager (PWM) Report on Actions Pending—As to the North Shore Road Byrne Point Guardrail, the report states that the PWM will be working on a Plan to come to the Council in the future. There was no information at the meeting as to when the work on the plan will start or the timing of completion.— As to the Spithead Circle, the Report states that the PWM has started the process with legal and survey. No further information at the meeting on timing. — As to Foot Ferry dock rehab, the report states that work will begin after July 15^th due to Ministry of Natural Resources permit requirements. —As to real time tracking and cameras for the ferry docks, the report states the PWM will be working at requesting quotations in the future. No information at the meeting on when the work on requesting will begin. (You will note below under the heading Ferry Committee, that part of the mandate of the Ferry Committee to be appointed by Council in early June, is to research the feasibility of cameras at Howe Island ferry dock. There appears to be confusion or overlap as to what the PWM is intending to do with respect to cameras and what the Ferry Committee is intended to do on the cameras issue). —As to road maintenance, the hot mix box (intended to improve pot hole repair) has been delivered and after fixing pot holes on Wolfe for two weeks will be brought to Howe to do the same thing. No explanation at the meeting given by the PWM or asked for by the Howe Island Councilors why Wolfe given priority. — As to Spithead re-construction, the report states that granular base, surface treatment and seed mulching has been approved and a work plan is being put together. No information given at the meeting on timing of the work plan. —As to North Shore Road, Howe Island Drive and Baseline Road ditching program, work is to be completed after Construction projects completed. No explanation given at the meeting on what Construction projects are referenced..
2. Weed Spraying Program—Weed spraying along the roads on Howe will begin shortly. Advertisements regarding the weed program will be placed in the local paper and on the Township web site. If you do not want spraying along the roadside frontage of your property, signs to that effect will be available from the PWM.
3. Waste and Recycling—There will be an Open House at the Howe Island Recycling Depot hosted by the Township on Saturday June 8, 2019, 8:00am to noon.
4. Howe Island Ferry Advisory Ad-hoc/Special Project Committee. —The Township is looking for three representatives from Howe Island to join this Committee. The Committee mandate includes gathering information on ferry usage, finding opportunities for faster service, researching feasibility on cameras at the ferry docks and gathering information on ridership, wait times and customer satisfaction. For the form of application and the full mandate of the Committee, go to the Township web site. Two Council members will be on the Committee; one will be Chair. Applications must be sent to the CAO/Clerk Plumley in the prescribed form by May 31, 2019.
5. Road Closure.—An application by the Dowlings for a road closing matter having to do with north of the Lower Side Road was differed to the next meeting of Council on Howe Island pending receipt of further information.
6. Priority of School Buses on the Ferry. —A proposal for a one month test period during which loading school buses in priority to cars and trucks would be suspended, was defeated. Instead a proposal to meet with school boards and bus company’ s to discuss reducing the number of school buses traveling to and from the Island was adopted. The meeting heard that there are 35 children being bused on and off the Island by three large and one smaller bus.

howeisland.org

NOTE: If you are a member of HIRA, thank you for supporting your community association. Please join if you are not a member at $10 per year and $100 for life.

This is a brief report to HIRA members and others on the Township of Frontenac Islands Council Meeting held on Monday April 8, 2019 at the Township Offices on Howe Island. One of Directors attended the meeting. Only matters of particular reference to Howe Island or of general interest are highlighted here.

1. Meetings—Council approved a By-law 2019-02 governing the proceedings of meetings of Council which includes a provision to permit Councilors to participate in Council meetings electronically only for meetings open to the public, only for one Councilor at the same time for the same meeting, only on 48 hours prior notice and only twice per year per Councilor. The By-Law contains other details relating to the electronic participation by Councilors.
2. Public Participation—It has been the practice of Council in the past to permit members of the community before the adjournment of the meeting, to speak or ask questions of Council. That practice has been discontinued. If members of the community wish to address Council at a Council meeting, they must make application to the Clerk prior to 11:00 am on the Tuesday preceding the regular Council meeting completing the Delegation Information Sheet and Request Form found in the By-Law. An approved delegate is limited to 10 minutes to address Council unless extended by Council.
3. Taxes—Council approved By-Law 2019-12, a by-law to approve tax levies. For Howe Island taxes will increase by 3.11%. In terms of dollars raised on Howe Island they are: from residential, $1,453,661; from farm, $13,649; from commercial, $2,067; and from managed forest, $351. Total for 2019 is $1,469,728 ($1,426,506 in 2018)
4. Pay for Councilors—Council approved By-Law 2019-14 regarding remuneration and expense reimbursement for Councilors. For attending special and committee meetings Councilors will be paid $115 (up from $75); for conventions and training attendance, $150 (up from $100); for internet and cell phone use, $100 per month (up from $50). The Mayor will be paid annually $14,259.16, the Deputy Mayor $9,570.97 and each Councilor $8,231.87. Councilors are also reimbursed for meals and km driven.
5. Works Manager’s Pending Action Report—The creation of Spithead Circle is in process with lawyers. The Howe Islander dock rehab will start after July 15^th due to MNR permit requirements. Quotes for real time tracking and real time cameras at the ferry terminals are ‘in’ the ‘future’. (Later in the meeting, it was announced that the issue of real time cameras at the ferry terminals would be put over to the ferry committee. Committees are currently scheduled to be appointed by Council in May.) The hot asphalt machine has been purchased but asphalt is not available until warmer weather. Work on North Shore Road, Spithead, Baseline and Howe Island Drive is ongoing without definitive dates either in the report or at the meeting, for start or finish times.
6. Fire and Rescue—Chief Mike Quinn attended the meeting and provided an overview of the current and future activities of the Fire and Rescue Service. Of particular interest, Fire and Rescue is developing an information night for the community to attend the fire hall with questions on all things relating to fire safety and the working relationship between the various fire and emergency services and including coordination with the ferry service.
7. Committees—For those Islanders who are interested in serving on a Committee appointed by Council, the current plan of Council is to advertise in May for people to apply for positions on each Committee. In the material before Council for the April 8^th meeting there is a draft Committee Policy which will apply to each Committee and each member. You can access the Policy at frontenacislands.ca , click on News and Notices, click on Council Meeting April 8, 2019 and go to Part 4 of the Agenda.

Note: If you are a member of HIRA, thank you for supporting your Community association. If you are not a member, please consider joining at $10 per year or $100 for a life time.

NOTE: Note the date for the HIRA PANCAKE BREAKFAST: Monday May 20, 2019 8:30-11:00 am at St Philomena’s.

This is a brief report to HIRA members and others on the Township of Frontenac Islands Budget Council Meeting held on Friday March 15, 2019 at the Township of 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.

1. Council approved the creation of a one acre dog park in the vicinity of Baseline Road and Howe Island Drive beside the parking lot for the Howe Island Trail; to be prepared, seeded and fenced in with appropriate signage added. Benches to be placed in the future.
2. Council approved the completion of ditching and base construction of Spithead Road including construction of a crossroad.
3. Council approved continued North Shore Road base reconstruction between Howe Island Drive and Lower Side Road to include three cross culverts and six entrance culvert replacements; ditching and road enhancements to be continued.
4. Howe Island Township Administration Office hours are to be modified. Open regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. No change to Library Hours.
5. The new Deputy Clerk, Treasurer and Planning Coordinator Scott Kerr has started his new position. As you know, Carol Dwyre retired earlier this month.
6. An administration review will be conducted of all Township property to assess private interest’s encroachments on public lands, insurance needs and liability issues.
7. Council took the decision to enter a five year lease-to-own to acquire a backhoe.
8. Regarding the portion of North Shore Road west from the entrance to Byrne Point to the Nokomis Hill, the speed limit will be reduced from 50km with reflectors installed. Guard rails may be installed at some future date.
9. Council remuneration will be increased by 3% to mirror staff increase of the same percentage amount. Phone and internet allowance is increased to $100 per month per Councilor. Conference allowance is increased to $150 per conference.
10. You can examine the Township complete budget tabled at the March 15, 2019 meeting at frontenacislands.ca. Go to News and Notices.

This is a brief report to HIRA members and others on the Township of Frontenac Islands Council Meeting held on March 11, 2019 at the Township offices on Wolfe Island. Two of the HIRA directors attended the meeting. Only matters of particular reference to Howe Island or of general interest are highlighted here.

• Frontenac County Council has retained a consultant to develop strategic plan for the County to address the priorities over the next four years, Mayor Doyle and deputy Mayor Higgs emphatically noted our priorities as Ferries, paramedic services and improved internet.
• Council approved the purchase of a “hot patch machine” The Public Works Manager advised council that this will improve the patching of potholes.
• On April 27 from 2:00-4:00 council will hold a public open house at the Howe Island Township Offices in honour of Carol‘s retirement. Carol was our long time Deputy clerk,/deputy treasurer and planning administrator .  The Board also welcomes Scott Kerr to the position of Deputy Clerk/Deputy Treasurer.

The HIRA board on behalf of our membership wishes Carol well in her retirement and thanks her for dedicated service over the past many years,