News – Howe Island Ratepayers Association

HIRA BRIEFING NOTE- June 30, 2025

This is a brief note to HIRA members and other residents of Howe Island about the Township of Frontenac Islands regular council meeting held on Monday May 12, 2025. This note deals with Council business that is of particular interest to residents of Howe Island.

Staff Reports

Finance Report No. FN-005-25, Q1 Year-to-Date Financial Reports:

A report prepared by Township treasurer, Jesse Collins, was received by Council. The report details the results of Township operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 and financial position at the end of March.

Separate reports were provided for:

The Township as a whole

Wolfe Island

Howe Island

The Township as a whole:

Revenue has been realized in line with 2025 budget expectations. Expenditure control has been good and, with 80% of the expense budget still available for use, expectations are the Township will remain on budget for the balance of the year.

As of March 31, 2025 the Township has a surplus of $ 344,325.

Wolfe Island:

Wolfe Island departments are in a favourable financial position at March 31, 2025, operating with a surplus of $ 98,239.

Howe Island:

Revenue realization in 2025 has met or exceeded budget expectations and spending has been contained within 2025 budget guidelines.

Overall, Howe Island departments are in a strong financial position with a surplus of $ 142,198 after the first quarter of operation.

The full report cited above can be accessed via a link provided in Section 5.2 of the Agenda for the regular meeting of Council held on May 12, 2025,. The Agenda can found on the Township website.

Finance Report No. FI-006-25, Parish Hall Lease Agreement:

To provide Howe Island residents and community groups with a place to stage community events, the Township is investigating a proposal to lease the St. Philomena Church parish hall from the Archdiocese of Kingston.

Township treasurer, Jesse Collins, submitted a report that provided an estimate of the annual operating costs the Township would assume under the terms of the proposed lease. Net operating costs that would be assumed by the Township are estimated to be approximately $ 14,335.00 per year.

The report was received for information but Council was not prepared to enter into a lease agreement at this time. Council did direct staff to continue discussions with the Archdiocese and to report back to Council with a more comprehensive analysis of expected operating costs and terms of a proposed lease before Council can determine “next steps”.

The full report can be accessed via a link found in Section 5.3 of the Agenda for the regular meeting of Council held on Monday, May 12, 2025. The Agenda can be found on the Township website.

Action Required Items

David Chesebrough, Request for Noise By-law Exemption:

Mr. Chesebrough, organizer of the 2025 Howe Island Rockin’ the Rockmusic festival, requested an exemption from the Township’s Noise By-law for the one-day event to be held on July 19, 2025.

Council granted the exemption. The concert is scheduled to run from 3:30 p.m. to approximately 11:30 p.m. on Saturday July 19, 2025.

END of COUNCIL BUSINESS

END OF BRIEFING NOTE

HIRA BRIEFING NOTE- June 16, 2025

This is a brief note to HIRA members and other residents of Howe Island about the Township of Frontenac Islands regular council meeting held on Monday April 14, 2025. This note deals with Council business that is of particular interest to residents of Howe Island.

Staff Reports

Public Works Report No. PW-002-25 Surface Treatment Tender Award :

The contract for road work, pulverizing and surface treatment that is to be completed on Howe Island in the 2025 season has been awarded to Miller Paving Limited. Work is to be completed on stretches of the following:

4 km section of Howe Island Drive

1.4 km section of Baseline Road

1.2 km section of Spithead Road

The work will be completed between July 1 – October 15, 2025.

The total contract amount for the Howe Island work is $ 416,255.84 The total contract amount is within the 2025 budget allocations approved by Township Council for roadwork on Howe Island.

Full content of the report cited above can be accessed via a link provided in Section 6.1 of the Agenda for the regular meeting of Council held on April 14, 2025. The Agenda can found on the Township website.

Finance Report No. FN-002-25, Township Ferry Subsidy Petition:

Treasurer, Jesse Collins, tabled a petition for subsidy from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) for operating costs incurred by the Township (East) ferry for 2024. The subsidy amount claimed in the petition is $ 371,883.05.

Council approved the amount claimed in the petition. The full report can be accessed via a link found in Section 6.2 of the Agenda for the regular meeting of Council held on April 14, 2025. The Agenda can be found on the Township website.

Administration Report No. AD-007-25, Draft Delegated Authority By-Law:

The purpose of the proposed by-law is to allow Township Council to delegate authority to make certain operational and administrative decisions without the need for obtaining Council approval. The intent of the by-law is to improve the Township’s ability to respond quickly to routine matters while ensuring that Council retains oversight on major policy and financial decisions.

Full content of the report can be found via a link contained in Section 6.5 of the Agenda for the regular meeting of Council held on Monday April 14, 2025.

The Agenda can be accessed on the Township website.

Council approved the draft by-law as outlined in the report and directed staff to proceed with the necessary steps for the adoption of the by-law.

Administration Report No. AD-008-25, Parish Hall Lease:

In order to provide Howe Island residents and community groups with a place to stage community events, the Township is investigating a proposal to lease the St. Philomena Church parish hall from the Diocese of Kingston.

It is expected the Township would be responsible for paying operating costs related to the building (e.g. utilities, insurance etc) while the Diocese would be responsible for all capital costs and major repairs associated with the building.

Council authorized Township staff to continue discussions with the Diocese and return with a proposed final lease agreement for Council to review.

Treasurer, Jesse Collins, was directed to gather more information on the expected operational costs and to report back with financial data for review by Council at their next regular meeting on May 12, 2025.

The full report can be accessed via a link found in Section 6.6 of the Agenda for the regular meeting of Council held on Monday, April 14, 2025. The Agenda can be found on the Township website.

Township Recognizes Peter Fleming:

Deputy Mayor Bill Saunders thanked Howe Island resident, Peter Fleming, for his generous donation of a new gavel for use in the Howe Island Council chambers. The gavel was handcrafted by Mr. Fleming using wood from the Island.

END of COUNCIL BUSINESS

END OF BRIEFING NOTE

HIRA BRIEFING NOTE- April 24, 2025

This is a brief note to HIRA members and other residents of Howe Island about the Township of Frontenac Islands regular council meeting held on Monday March 10, 2025. This note deals with Council business that is of particular interest to residents of Howe Island.

Staff Reports

FN Report No. FN-001-25: Q4 2024 Financial Reports:

A report tabled by Township treasurer, Jesse Collins, provided a high-level year-to-date summary of the financial position of the municipality Reports were prepared for the Township in general, with separate reports for Wolfe Island and for Howe Island.

The report indicates the Township, overall, realized a 2024 budget surplus of $328,544. As a municipality, 2024 revenue was higher than expected and expenses were lower than amounts budgeted.

Howe Island departments were able to generate a 2024 budget surplus of

$76,520. Expenses for all Howe Island departments (e.g. Fire, ferry, roads and waste/recycling) came in under budget.

The complete report can be accessed via a link found in Section 5.1 of the Agenda for the regular meeting of Council held on March 10, 2025. The Agenda is located on the Township website.

The report was approved and received by Council for information.

Administration Report No. AD-003-25 : 2025 Departmental Work Plan:

A report prepared by Township CAO, Vanessa Latimer, provides an overview of planned activities for 2025 and timelines for same for each Township department.

The major public works initiatives planned for Howe Island include plans to resurface sections of Howe Island Drive (9.4 km in total), Spithead Road (1.2 km), Base Line Road (1.4 km) and Lighthouse Lane (0.1 km).

Plans also call for construction of a second washroom for Pat Norris Park as well as tilling the soil and removing weeds from the ball diamond infield.

The complete report can be accessed via a link provided in Section 5.2 of the Agenda for the regular meeting of Council held on March 10, 2025.

The Agenda is located on the Township website.

By-Laws Enacted

By-law #039-2024 – General Fees & Rates:

The by-law, intended to establish general fees and charges for a range of various services provided by the municipality (e.g. animal control, waste disposal, burn permits etc.) received first and second reading at the February 10, 2025 regular meeting of Council. The by-law received third reading and was enacted March 10, 2025

For those who wish to review a copy of the proposed by-law, it can be accessed via Section 11.1 of the agenda for the regular meeting of Council March 10, 2025. The agenda can be found on the Township web site.

By-law #006-2025 to appoint a Building Inspector:

The by-law was enacted on March 10, 2025 to appoint Ashley Osmar to the position of Building Inspector/Provincial Offences Officer. We understand that the appointment is intended to provide support to the Township when the full-time building inspector is not available.

Full content of the by-law can be accessed via a link provided in Section 11.2 of the Agenda for the regular meeting of Council held on March 10, 2025. The Agenda is located on the Township’s website.

By-law #007-2025: Adoption of Personnel Policy:

The Township has adopted a formal, written personnel policy to govern relations between the Township and its employees. This by-law gives legal force to that policy.

Full content of to the Policy Manual can be accessed via a link found in Section 11.3 of the Agenda for the regular meeting of Council held on March 10, 2025. The Agenda is located on the Township website.

By-law #008-2025: Appointment of Deputy Clerk:

The by-law was enacted to appoint Angelique Cardinal to the vacant Deputy Clerk position with the Township. Angelique has extensive experience in municipal administration, most recently with the County of Frontenac.

Content of the by-law can be accessed via a link provided in Section 11.4 of the Agenda for the regular meeting of Council held on March 10, 2025. The Agenda is located on the Township website.

END of COUNCIL BUSINESS

Other Items:

Township offers Spring Clean-Up Wood Chipping Service:

In response to the recent ice-storm, The Township will be offering a wood chipping service to Howe Island residents on the following dates:

Thursday April 24

Friday April 25

Saturday April 26

The service is being offered by appointment only. To book an appointment please contact Mike Quinn:

Email: mquinn@frontenacislands.ca

Tel: (613) 531-1250

The service is restricted to brush material only and diameter cannot exceed 8 inches at the stub end. Further detail can be found on the Township website on the New & Notices page.

END OF BRIEFING NOTE