It’s a very, very light agenda this week and I have identified in the section below those items that are of most interest, to me at least, with a few comments.
I’ll use the introduction to discuss an issue that is not on the agenda but came out as a news item. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. It’s about the toilets on Seguin Street almost directly across from Parry Sound Town Hall being vandalized for what seems to be the fifth time in the past year. The last time we had an ongoing issue like this, vandalizing of the pumping station across from the high school, the Town took action and set up a camera. Along with discussion and education, it brought results. I think it’s time to do that once again, only this time the setup would be much easier. I wonder if these individuals are also responsible for the damage at Tower Hill, the baskets on the bridge, and the Waubuno Beach toilets. I realize that common wisdom is to just fix the damage and that with time the individuals will either grow up, leave town, or grow tired of the activity. But I believe enough is enough. Let’s invest a little bit of time and effort to sort this out.
On another topic I read in the North Star on Wednesday the 12th that the CN Police have jurisdiction 500 metres on either side of the railway track. I guess that is so they can pursue individuals and make an arrest. A bit like in the southern police TV shows where the sheriff and deputy were restricted to conducting chases only as far as their county line. But, if we do have CN Police jurisdiction out to 500 metres perhaps we can reduce our OPP service and save a few bucks. (Just kidding of course. But it means all of my property is under the jurisdiction of the CN ‘brown shirts’. Presumably they can trespass at will. Authority but no real responsibility is not a desirable situation.)
The agenda items with comments follow.
Correspondence
4.2 – Wendy Pegahmagabow, Executive Director, Harvest Share Re: Reinstatement of Charitable Status for Harvest Share. I’m glad to see that this has been fixed up. It’s a good organization that deserves our support, and the tax deduction makes it a no-brainer.
4.6 – Dianna Allen, resident. Re: Request for Council to consider amendments to the Zoning By-law to allow Parry Sound residents to have backyard hens. I think I support this even though I have no intention of taking advantage of any by-law change. Let’s just make sure the number of chickens is limited, perhaps as a percent of the property square footage. The next question of course is, what about ducks and geese? Lambs and goats? I think it’s manageable but needs some reasonable limits. Will it attract wildlife is another question that needs to be addressed.
Resolutions and Direction to Staff
9.5.2 – Tender – Snow Removal. Resolution. Tender – Snow Removal. That Council accept the tender from Weeks Construction Inc. for snow removal on town streets during the 2016/2017 winter season, including traffic control and labour costs to clear around infrastructure including tree pits and hydrants, as follows: Tandem dump truck: $ 95.00 per hour. Wheeled loader: $105.00 per hour. Blower and control unit: $105.00 per hour. This tender is the lowest tender of three tenders received.
9.6.1 – Feasibility of Establishing a Compost Facility. Direction. That the Director of Public Works be directed to prepare a report and recommendation on the feasibility of establishing a commercial, institutional and multi-residential composting facility for consideration during 2017 Budget deliberations. This makes sense to me, especially with the bear issues we are facing and the attraction of backyard composting. But a central composting facility would be gull and bear magnet. There are never any easy answers, even if intentions are good.
By-laws
10.1.1 – Rezoning Application – Z/16/5 – 84 Bowes Street (Breault). Being a By-law to amend By-law No. 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law), as amended, for 84 Bowes Street (Breault).
10.1.2 – Site Plan Approval Application – The Parry Sound Affordable Housing Development Corporation – 82 Gibson Street. Being a By-law to grant Site Plan Approval and authorize the execution and registration of a development agreement with The Parry Sound Affordable Housing Development Corporation – 82 Gibson Street. This is the William Beatty School redevelopment.
I may not attend this week’s meeting given the light agenda and the rapidly disappearing evening light.
Friday Evening at the Champaigne Street Boat Launch
No comments
October 16, 2016 at 10:35 pm
Love the new banner pic.
re: the chickens. I also would not take advantage of it, but I think it should definitely be allowed. I tend to think that in a free society, as ours is supposed to be, the default should always be that we are free to do a thing, until it can be proven that such a thing causes sufficient trouble the the majority to justify curtailing my freedom. n.b. “sufficient”; I don’t think causing someone a little trouble is enough reason to prohibit something.
Could there be problems? Sure, but I think regulations should target the problems, not the potentials.
For example, I’ve been to a number of campgrounds that ban dogs. If you ask why they’ve banned dogs, they invariably say that they’re worried about some dogs becoming a problem. So for the sake of the potential of some dogs to become a problem, they go ahead and ban all of them – in the misled notion of some weird standard of fairness, for certain.
Much better, I think, is how the Ontario Parks policies handle it. They give you full freedom to bring your dog, but stipulate that any dog that actually does become a problem will be dealt with, and the owner receives fines.
What’s wrong with that model?
Let the people have their chickens. Let them have hens and roosters too. Heck, let them have their ducks, pigs and goats too. Let them have that freedom – or better, recognise the freedom that they already have, which, despite their high opinion of themselves, the municipal government is not more important – and give people the chance to show that they can do such things without causing problems for others. And if there are some problems? Then deal with those problems, but leave the rest of the people alone.
My $0.02, worth what you paid for it.