Parry Sounds ~ Ideas and Opinions, In and Around Parry Sound

There is not much on this week’ agenda that should cause concern for Parry Sound residents. The agenda does point to issues that Council and the Town will be facing in 2018. In addition to elections of a new Council, there will be a substantial turnover in Senior Staff. We have this year seen the resignations of our By-law Officer, and our Director of Finance (and POA Court Services). This coming year sees the departures of our Chief Administration Officer and Director of Development & Leisure Services, followed by the departure of our Director of Public Works in 2019. These are all caring and capable individuals who have shown that they can work together. With the possibility of new faces on Council, and the reality that there will be new faces on Senior Staff, we could be facing challenges if poor decisions are made in hiring and voting. I’m optimistic, the past election led to a pair of capable new faces on Council, and the additions to Staff in the past couple of years have been uniformly excellent. Things will be changing and a steady hand will be necessary.

The most notable topics on this week’s agenda include:

4.1 – Sewer flush and clean. I’m interested in seeing the Town’s written response to this issue. In the past the Town has included their response to similar matters as part of the agenda package. If the Town is going to tell them too bad it’s your problem, I’d like the rest of us to understand the Town’s position on these matters. It’s a bit like blasting in Town. The competent companies do an inventory of the local area to make sure there aren’t any pre-existing situations they might be blamed for. In this case of sewer problems, being downhill from a high pressure hose blowing out the lines certainly could lead to problems, even if everything in the home was tickety-boo.

5.3 – I’ll bet people are interested in this property. Let’s get a fair price and put it to good use.

9.1.2, 9.1.4 – Activities related to Senior Staff changes that were mentioned earlier.

9.4.1 – An additional solar project, this one on the north end of Parry Sound in McDougall where the Town owns land and a water tower.

10.4.1 – Mostly about Downtown flowers; so easy to plan, and so easy to screw up (at least in the opinion of some). Something I remember about about silk purses comes to mind.

Closed Session

1. d) labour relations or employee negotiations. (Grievance)

Correspondence

4.1 – Richard and Marilyn Mooder, residents. Concerns about the road repair on Rosetta Street and the procedure used to flush and clean the sewer and their complaint on the effects on their home.

4.2 – Yasir Naqvi, Attorney General for the Province of Ontario. The Stronger, Fairer Ontario Act (Budget Measures, 2017 including amendments to the Provincial Offences Act which would see a streamline and simplified process, expanded online service delivery, transfer of responsibility for a broader range of provincial offences prosecutions to municipal partners and strengthening of municipal fine enforcement tools.

4.4 – Jack Tynan, President, Park to Park Trail Association. Formal request for Parry Sound’s continued financial support of Park to Park Trail.

4.10 – Glen Hodgson, Chair, West Parry Sound District Museum. Request for the 2018 contribution to the Museum on Tower Hill.

Deputations

5.1 – Rita Orr, Parry Sound Public Library. Update on Activities and 2018 Draft Budget.

5.2 – Nadine Hammond, Museum on Tower Hill. Strategic Plan and Executive Summary

5.3 – John Jacklin and John Jackson, residents. Interest in the surplus property at Salt Dock Road.

Resolutions and Direction to Staff

9.1.2 – CAO Recruiter Appointment. Resolution. That upon review of three requests for proposals received, Council appoints the firm of Tim L. Dobbie Consulting Ltd. to undertake the recruitment of a new CAO in anticipation of pending 2018 retirement of incumbent Rob Mens.

9.1.3 – Policy – Use of Corporate Resources During a Municipal Election. Resolution. That Council approve the Use of Corporate Resources During a Municipal Election Policy, attached as Schedule “A”.

9.1.4 – Creation of Economic Officer Development Position. Resolution. That given the pending August 2018 (last day in the office May 11, 2018) retirement of Lynn Middaugh as Director of Development & Leisure Services, the position of Economic Development Officer be created with a target date of April 9, 2018.

9.2.1 – Award 2017 General Insurance RFP. Resolution. That Council hereby awards the RFP for general insurance and risk management services to BFL Canada Inc. in the amount of $249,669 (plus applicable taxes) for the year December 15, 2017 to December 15, 2018.

9.4.1 – Commence Process to Consider Lands Suitable for a Renewable Energy Project. Direction. 1. That staff initiate conversations with McDougall Township regarding a renewable energy project on Town owned lands in their Township. 2. That depending on the outcome of the above conversations, that staff discuss with the relevant partners the creation of a renewable energy project on these parcels.

By-laws

10.2.1 – Debenture issue for 2017 Capital Works. By-law 2017 – 6781. A By-law of the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound to Authorize the Borrowing Upon Serial Debentures in the Principal Amount of $572,056 Towards the Cost of Big Sound Marina Dock B Replacement, Bobby Orr Community Centre Roof Replacement, Public Washroom Replacement.

10.4.2 – Downtown Business Association/Town of Parry Sound – Memorandum of Understanding. By-law 2017 – 6783. Being a By-law to authorize the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound and the Parry Sound Downtown Business Association and to repeal By-law No: 2017-6732.

10.4.3 – Rezoning Application – Z/17/06 – Lawrence/Mulligan (Oakridge Road) – Lifting of “h” symbol.By-law 2017 – 6784. Being a By-law to amend By-law No. 2004-4653 (The Zoning By-law) as amended to remove a holding provision from a portion of the lands described as Parts 2 and 3, and part of Part 1 of 42R11963.

If you won’t be attending the meeting, and you certainly won’t unless you have a deputation to make, watch the live feed. Or check out the recording later in the week. I recommend watching at least through the Councillors’ reports and the deputations. The rest will be a snooze, everything will be approved as recommended.

It looks as though I will need to start attending Council meetings again, and not just following them online, if I want say my goodbyes.