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Agenda, By-Law, DBA, Elections, Infrastructure, Opinion, parry sound, Planning, Taxes, Town Council
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There are a few items on this week’s agenda that caught my attention, and at least one of them had me shaking my head. A bit of commentary precedes the key agenda items.
Closed Session c) – a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land for municipal or local board purposes. (Two potential Property Purchases) The Town is looking at acquiring more land. I wonder what’s up. Is it related to a pool complex, the Parry sound Road extension? Let me know if you have some inkling as to where the Town is planning on spending money.
4.2– Seeking payment for damage done when a tree on town property fell on her home. My response is wow. Sometimes is easier to just accept responsibility and move on – but that might create precedent, so deny responsibility. The big organizations can do this because they have the resources to wait out the ‘little people’, (aka the taxpayer). This has to do with a tree branch that fell off a Town tree and pulled down a power line leading to a home. The homeowner is asking the Town to reimburse them for the $900 cost to have the power standard repaired. I am familiar with the situation as it took place in the home across the street from us. After more than 33 pieces of correspondence, and 3 months the claim was denied based on the contention that the tree was healthy and the branch falling down was an act of God. The Town of course proceeded to take the tree down at a cost of about $3,000 by my estimate. There was evidence that the tree was diseased but no one is willing to accept responsibility or declare the tree diseased and a Town responsibility, especially the Town’s insurer. I have attached the full correspondence thread from the agenda package through this link (40 pages). It’s a not very artful example of ‘passing the buck’. The buck it seems stops with the taxpayer.
9.1.1 – Façade Improvement Program Recommendations.There is quite a bit being invested by the Town in improving business signage.
Closed Session
- a) the security of property of the municipality or local board. (Boundary Matter)
b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees. (Internal Staff Issue)
c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land for municipal or local board purposes. (Two potential Property Purchases)
Correspondence
4.1 – Richard and Marilyn Mooder. 16 Rosetta Street. Concerns regarding the flushing of wastewater pipes on Rosetta in 2017 as part of the annual maintenance and how it effected their house.
4.2 – Elaine Pelleboer, 7 Redwood Drive. Seeking payment for damage done when a tree on town property fell on her home. Response from Staff provided.
Deputations
5.1 – John Meyer and Teryl Faulkner, Parry Sound Area Active Transportation. Presentation of a proposed Bicycle Route on Bowes Street
5.2 – Brenda Muller of Whispering River Orchestra. Information regarding the Whispering River Orchestra and the search for a new home for the Orchestra in Parry Sound.
Resolutions and Direction to Staff
9.1.1 – Façade Improvement Program Recommendations. Resolution. That upon the recommendation of the 2018 Façade Improvement Review Committee, Council approves:
a) 93 James Street (No Ordinary Days) in the amount of $18,606.61;
b) 15 James Street (Bearly Used Books) in the amount of $6,100.00;
c) 10 Bowes Street (Sound Ideas Audiology) in the amount of $2,875.00; and
d) 25 Mary Street (Parry Sound Bikes) in the amount of $12,418.39.
And further that Agreement Letters be drafted and executed by the successful applicants.
9.1.2 – Consent Application – B 14/2018 (PS) (Downing) – 8 Edward Street. Resolution. That Consent Application No. B14/2018 (PS) (Downing) – 8 Edward Street, be supported subject to a condition which requires an easement over the drainage course in favour of the Town; and That the owner of 8 Edward Street be advised that it is their responsibility to restore the drainage course to its original abilities to dispose of stormwater should any drainage issues result from their recent alterations.
Resolution.
That the Mayor and Clerk are authorized to execute the easement documentation. That all legal costs to register the easement be paid for by the Town.
9.1.3 – Council Approved Sign Application – Georgian Bay Airways – Bay St. Resolution. That pursuant to section 3.(4) of the Sign By-law, the Chief Building Official is authorized to issue a permit for a sign on the Bay Street road allowance pursuant to the following conditions and variances:
a) The appearance of the sign shall be substantially according to the application,
b) The location of the sign shall be to the satisfaction of the Chief Building Official,
c) The Town reserves the right to remove or relocate the sign on occasion should the lands be required for municipal purposes,
d) A permit may be issued pursuant to this resolution, for the summers of 2019 and 2020 upon payment of a fee of $50 per season, and
e) All other regulations in the sign by-law continue to apply except for those revised by this resolution.
9.2.1 – 2018 International Sports Heritage Association Conference, San Francisco, California. Resolution. That Council authorizes Caitlin Dyer to attend the 2018 International Sports Heritage Association Conference in San Francisco, California September 26th – 28th, 2018, further to By-law No:2008-5173 which requires prior Council approval for attendance at seminars, conferences and conventions outside of the Province of Ontario.
9.2.2 – Council Member Pregnancy, Birth and/or Adoption of Child Leave Policy. Resolution. Whereas the Ontario government passed legislation under Bill 68, Modernizing Ontario’s Municipal Legislation Act; and Whereas the Bill received Royal Assent on May 30, 2017 and is now in effect; and Whereas a number of Ontario Regulations were provided with the Bill; one of which was the policy development of a Pregnancy/Parental Leave policy by all Ontario municipalities;
Now, therefore be it resolved that Council for the Town of Parry Sound approve the Council Member Pregnancy, Birth and/or Adoption of Child Leave Policy attached as Schedule “A”.
9.2.3 – Second Quarter Goal Plans Update. Resolution. That Council approves the June, 2018 Second Quarter Goal Plan update, attached as Schedule “A”.
9.3.1 – 2017 Annual Investment Report. Resolution. That Council accepts the 2017 Annual Investment Report and the attached Schedule “A” in accordance with Town’s Investment Policy.
By-laws
10.2.1 – Amendments to the Election Sign By-law. By-law 2018 – 6838. Being a by-law to regulate Election Signs in the Town of Parry Sound in federal, provincial and municipal elections and to repeal By-law 2018-6831.
10.3.1 – DBA Lease Agreement Renewal. By-law 2018 – 6839. Being a by-law to authorize the execution of an agreement between the Parry Sound Downtown Board of Management and the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound for a lease renewal for use of a specified portion of the Municipal Office.
10.3.2 – By-law to specify claw back percentages for 2018 property taxes. By-law 2018 – 6840. Being a By-law to Specify the “Claw-back Percentages” in Respect of Properties in the Commercial Class for 2018 Taxation Year.
10.4.1 – Union Gas Franchise Agreement. By-law 2018 – 6841. Being a by-law to execute the Union Gas Franchise Agreement and repeal by-law 98-4008.
Resolution. That Council hereby resolve that:
1. This Council approves the form of draft by-law and franchise agreement attached as Schedule “A” and authorizes the submission thereof to the Ontario Energy Board for approval pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 of The Municipal Franchises Act; and
2. This Council requests that the Ontario Energy Board make an Order declaring and directing that the assent of the municipal electors to the attached draft by-law and franchise agreement, attached as Schedule “A”, pertaining to the Corporation of the Town of Parry Sound is not necessary pursuant to the provisions of Section 9(4) of the Municipal Franchises Act; and
3. That the Clerk be directed to provide Union Gas with four certified true copies of this resolution and attachment per their request.
No comments
June 17, 2018 at 10:45 pm
Hi Jo………………9.2.1 to send a person to California for a sports Conference is totally absurd and a unneccessary waste of tax dollars. I once attended a Sports Conference in SS Marie, and that distance was a bridge too far. In the Information age, which was not available when I was on Council, makes the attending of these Conferences redundant, and especially to California.
What will be her cost to the Town? Maybe in the area of $5000.00?
Utterly ridiculous.
June 17, 2018 at 10:52 pm
But then? It would be interesting to find out how fast people in California can run, and also, how high they can jump in person, rather than just read about it.
June 18, 2018 at 8:34 am
Cliff, I disagree. There are lots of reasons to go to a conference, and they aren’t always obvious. We still need to meet people in person not just through emails, phone calls or teleconferencing. It’s often the non verbal elements of communication that are the most important. It’s also important to see, in person, how these bigger events are staged and the little things that make a difference and can be translated back to our little town.
Finally there is the need to invest in people. When you send someone off to a conference like this you are making a tangible statement of support for that person. There is the old saw about ‘being kept in the dark, being fed shit and then getting cut off at the knees’. If you have good people you let them see the light and invest in them. Sometimes the payback is not immediate or obvious, but if you were ever given a similar opportunity you would want others to experience it as well.
I was happy to send my reports to conferences because it was a chance to let them know they were valued while providing them an opportunity to expand their sense of what is possible.
June 18, 2018 at 5:33 pm
Hi Jo….If we were talking about our Hospital staff, for example, and there was a medical breakthrough in regards to the curing of Cancer, and there was a Conference to be held in Berlin, I would be the first person to vote that a doctor in Parry Sound be paid to attend that Conference.
The only thing I learned when I attended a Recreation Conference in SS Marie was that City only had one Ball Diamond with lights which was built and operated by the City. They were amazed when I told them that we had four lighted Ball diamonds all built and operated by volunteers. To send a person as far away as California for a Sports Conference, and the costs associated with sponsoring that trip with Tax dollars, is an obscene use of said Tax dollars in my humble opinion.
Toronto? Sure. But no further.
I would guess that Council will pass the motion unanimously being that they are not paying out of their own pockets……………Pity
June 19, 2018 at 11:04 am
I think I agree and disagree with both of you.
On the one hand, I disagree with Cliff (and agree with Jo) about whether the trip is a worthwhile expenditure. I agree that it is, for most the same reasons Jo gave.
However, I sorta agree with Cliff that the expense should nevertheless not be made. You gave the example of a private business, Jo, and I’m sure you’re correct. But I think private business would usually only make such expenditures when business was good. If times were tough, cost cutting was in effect, and they had just had lay offs, then many such expenditures would not be made, regardless of how worthwhile they were otherwise. Even good expenses have to be triaged, prioritized, and constricted by budget.
The problem here though is that this is not a private business, but a public government, so when they run out of cash, instead of making the hard decisions about what worthwhile expenses will simply have to be cut anyway, instead they just raise people’s taxes.
Private businesses don’t get that option, and neither do private citizens. Some people, when they run short of cash, really do just have to decide between rent or heat. It’s the failure of politicians to understand that which gets them labelled “out of touch” , and their willingness to casually overspend on the backs of struggling citizens which gets them thrown out of office. A few more California junkets, and I bet Parry sound will get their own “Doug ford” !
June 19, 2018 at 5:10 pm
Well gentlemen, I don’t think either of you would be able to attract and retain talent with that approach. Yup, the in by 9:00 and out by 5:00 folks would not at all be disappointed with your apparent management styles.
You don’t buy into the market when it’s at the top, you buy it at the bottom when everyone is too frightened to invest. You need to know your people and you need to know how and when to invest in them regardless of the business environment. That’s why little businesses complain about increased minimum wages, they budget and expect to get the bare minimum out of everyone. Paying less is the way to survive. If that’s what employees think, that’s what they will deliver.
June 20, 2018 at 12:14 am
Wait, what’s wrong with in by 9 out by 5 (or as Dilbert called it, the OA5 model)? Sounds like a decent work-life balance to me!
June 20, 2018 at 3:45 pm
Nothing at all wrong with 9:00 to 5:00. It’s what you do for those 8 hours. Minimum wage, minimum employer investment in developing an employee results in employees who do the minimum. That’s the unspoken contract. It’s interesting how a little bit more money, and a little bit of genuine interest in employees can deliver a significant payback. It’s how win-win is won.
June 20, 2018 at 5:58 pm
I’m not saying you’re wrong, Jo, I’m just saying the application of that is limited by budget. I could spend $10k on employee training and upgrading, and those employees would then be equipped to deliver better work. But if I only had $5k in the bank account when I did that, then my business wouldn’t be around to see the benefit of that employee upgrading, cause I’d be bankrupt!
Investing in employees can yield returns, just as investing in good stocks can on wall street. But I can still only buy as many stocks as I can afford. Everyone but the government seems to realize that when the money runs out, you need to stop.