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~ Ideas, Opinions and 'Green Shoots' In and Around Parry Sound

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Monthly Archives: July 2013

Watch the Thousands and the Billions Will Take Care of Themselves

26 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Parry Sound, Reflections, Safety, Train

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

parry sound, train

This post has been in the back of my head for more than six months. It was last year that I came across some public ‘information’ about the Forest Street gate installation that bothered me. My sense was that Canadian National Railway (CN) was taking advantage of the ‘system’ to pad their profits, or at least minimize their costs.

I’ll outline what I found and how I interpret it. I may be wrong, but after mulling it over for the last few months I still feel taken advantage of. The issue seems to highlight the difference between what is ‘right’ and what is ‘allowed’. Each of us has our own sense of what is ‘right’ and what is ‘wrong’. For big business it seems there is really no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, it’s more a case of whether it’s profitable and whether it’s legal. And when it comes to legal it’s often the case that companies shop around for a legal opinion that aligns with their ‘interests’. On occasion the issue comes to court where the interpretation of what is ‘legal’ can be different.

In the Fall of 2011 Parry Sound saw the installation of railway crossing arms at the Forest Street crossing. This street crosses a track that is ‘owned’ and maintained by CN (or does the track cross the street?). The crossing already had signal lights, so this installation added in crossing arms and the necessary controllers. In addition crossing arms were provided for the pedestrian crossing. The sidewalk is regularly used by pedestrians and individuals on motorized scooters.

The actual installation of the crossing arms was subcontracted. CN presumably oversaw the installation to ensure the job was properly done. The arms that were installed along with the corresponding control units were purchased from a company in the USA.

So far, so good. The installation seems to have been properly done. There are no issues that I am aware of with respect to the new arms.

The cost for the installation of this type of safety equipment is shared by the Federal Government, the local municipality and the railway whose line is involved, in this case CN. The costs are shared 80%, 12.5% and 7.5% respectively, with the smallest amount, 7.5%, covered by the railway. This may seem to be a strange logic where the public, federal and municipal, is largely responsible for covering the cost of safety equipment to support a private business, in this case CN.

The total cost for the Forest Street crossing arms was $242,884.75. This means the Federal Government’s portion was $155,020.35, Parry Sound’s was $54,915.25, and CN’s was $32,949.15.

The information that was provided to Parry Sound to support their part of the expense contains considerable detail on the various components of the total cost. This information is available to the public. It was while reviewing the supporting invoices that I found something that didn’t feel ‘right’.

Let’s remember that installations like crossing arms enhances public safety, something that should be of concern everyone. Even CN should be interested in enhancing safety. Less accidents mean less delays and less investigations – all of which cost them time and money. It would also seem to be good public relations to continually improve the safety of their operations as they increase traffic, noise and pollution. Yes more rail traffic means more pollution even if it is the lesser of several options.

Here’s a summary of how the costs add up to the $242,884.75 total (from the CN invoice to the Town of Parry Sound).

Labour – $9,310.07
Equipment – $1,975.53
Material – $160,707.85
Other Costs
– Miscellaneous – $65,752.72
– Outsourced Services – $5,135.58

The detailed costs are worth examining a little closer.

1. Labour costs all had a 97.80% overhead charge tacked on. This doesn’t seem unreasonable – there are benefits, pension and other costs associated with staff.

2. Material from stock was assigned a 50% overhead. This seems a bit on the high side from my perspective. But lets let that slide, the total cost for these materials, before overhead, was only a couple thousand dollars.

3. All purchase order items were marked up a flat 50%. This is where I start having an issue. Sure the small items like $63.32 for ‘Heat Shrinkable Label for #16 AWG Wire’ makes sense. There are ordering and receiving expenses.

4. One of the purchase order items did ring a bell. The ‘Safetran Package’ which cost $103,366.59, was marked up 50% as well. This added $51,683.30 to the total bill. This is actually more than CN’s portion of the total bill.

5. Other Costs were marked up 3%. This included the services provided by the contractors that did the actual installation. From what I can tell the Labour costs listed earlier were for one or more CN personnel to be on site for the installation.

My issue is with the 50%, or $51,683.30, up charge for the Safetran Package. It strikes me as excessive, almost to the point of being abusive. This is not to suggest it was illegal or inappropriate, but perhaps taking advantage of the system. It’s one of those charges that if a business is permitted to charge, they will charge. Sort of like a company charging a 20% return fee, even if it’s a defective item. Yes, it’s published policy, but is it good business? Probably not, there are always other companies that are happy to take your business with more reasonable return privileges. But when it comes to the railway, they set the price and that is that. There is no one else who can bid on the job.

It can be argued that the railway has internal costs for the installation. These can include writing purchase orders and receiving materials. Ordering the Safetran Package might also have required some staff time to establish the order specifications. But come on now, $51,683.30 worth? That upcharge added about $6,500 to Parry Sound’s part of the bill, and $41,346 to the federal bill that we all cover one way or another.

And in the meantime CN reported net income of $2.68 billion on revenue of $9.92 billion in 2012. Aren’t you glad that Parry Sound was able to do it’s bit to add a little more to the CN bottom line?

No, it’s not illegal, it’s probably not immoral by most any business standard, but as a resident of Parry Sound I feel as though I’ve been hosed down. Yes, I have the right to feel however I wish, but with time I think this type of business will not be acceptable. If you operate your business at the expense of individuals and  communities you need to take on a greater part of the responsibility. Do you think that the residents of North York were provided with a bill to put a chain link fence around Pearson Airport to ‘protect them from the airplanes’?

But if we want more crossing arms in Parry Sound, or if we think a fence along the railway would improve safety, we need not only to pay our portion we also need to subsidize a hugely profitable industry. And if the railways are required to cover part of the cost they can always get it back by up charging materials and services.

A suggestion; read the 2013 CN Annual Report. The overall theme is how we (CN) had a great performance in 2012, and really don’t know how we can do better in 2013. There are two groups to whom they feel responsible, their customers and their shareholders. Read on a little more and there is mention of how they are becoming more environmentally responsible. But there is very little mention about their responsibilities to the communities they run through day and night.

Monopolies are wonderful for business. They allow companies to dictate the rules and everybody falls in line. In theory government has regulatory control over the railways, but they rarely use the power. While the civil servants may see the need for change and improvement they are led by the politicians. What politician would ever want to get on the wrong side of the railway industry? It will change with time, everything does. Perhaps with Lac-Megantic we will see the start, but I rather doubt it. Introducing policies to reduce derailments only scratches the surface of improvements that need to be made to limit the negative impact the railways have on local communities like Parry Sound.

Forest Street Crossing

ParrySights-0149

Council Meeting Notes – July 16, 2013

18 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Parry Sound, Safety, Town Council, Train

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

By-Law, Council Minutes, DBA, EMS, parry sound, PS Power, Tower Hill, Town Council, train, Water Management

This week’s council meeting went on until about 9:20, with the debate mostly surrounding the Downtown Business Association (DBA) area realignment. In a series of 4 to 3 votes the realignment was approved with a little unhappiness on both sides of the matter.

The only item to come out of the closed session of council was the apparent approval of an employment agreement with a new town planner. No name or start date were offered. There was no update provided regarding the status of the discussions between the Town and Lakeland Holding Ltd. regarding Parry Sound Hydro Corporation.

Councillors and Mayor Reports, Questions of Staff

The councillors had little to report of note concerning their activities. That is not to suggest that they have not been busy.

There were questions of the EMS Director regarding the Town’s preparedness for an accident, not necessarily on the scale of Lac-Mégantic. There was quite a bit of discussion and assurances that the Town was prepared and that our plan was coordinated with the neighbouring municipalities. There was mention of using social media. Whoopee! This is no criticism of the new EMS Director, he is new in the position, and we received the same type of ‘fluff’ from Staff prior to his arrival. (We refers to the Rail Safety Committee.) We are told what we are not allowed to know what the plan is (shhh – it’s a secret). Well I want to know how, at 3:00 in morning, or 3:00 in afternoon, I will be alerted to an emergency, and what I need to do. Living some twenty miles from a nuclear plant in Pennsylvania we were provided with instructions on what to do in case of an emergency. There were also a series of alarm sirens that were tested every month to provide an early warning to residents. And there were written directions on what to do in case of an emergency. They learned a few lessons after the Six Mile Island disaster. But here we are told ‘don’t worry, be happy, we have a plan and we test it annually’. So what’s the plan? Does it involve having the Island Queen blast their air horn? Or does that just mean they are heading out on their morning or afternoon cruise?

How about a plan that tells us as townspeople, what and what not to do in an emergency? How about telling us how we will know there is an emergency. Or do we just wait until people start screaming and heading out of town (the latter could be confusing on the Monday of a long weekend).

We perhaps don’t need to know what the plan is, we just need to know what we are expected to do in an emergency. When you get on an airplane they remind you of where the safety exits are.

No, I don’t feel comforted by spoken assurances of preparedness in the absence of tangible information. Enough said!

Correspondence and Deputation

4.1 – a letter from Stewardship Ontario regarding funding for the Town’s Blue Box Recycling Program passed on to Staff.

4.2 – a letter from Seguin Valley Golf Club offering a golfing discount for community First Responders was passed on to Staff.

4.3 – letters from Joel Kennedy on behalf of their clients and a town resident regarding the proposed boundary changes to the Downtown Business Improvement area were noted.

4.4 – a request that Council consider adding multi-unit dwellings to the municipal by-law that currently prohibits smoking in work and leisure areas was forward to Staff.

4.5 – a rebuttal by the Parry Sound Downtown Business Association regarding the request to remove Market Square Park from the proposed downtown boundary amendment was noted.

5.1 – I presented a deputation that included a suggestion the Town consider the formation of a Parks Committee to provide community input into the roles and uses of the many recreational areas in the Town to assist in the review and planning of new initiatives for these areas. See 9.1.4 for more discussion.

Consent Agenda

8.1 – Council approved a resolution asking federal and provincial governments take a proactive role in managing and preventing outbreaks of imported forestry related diseases.

8.2 – a resolution asking the Province of Ontario to amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995 to make it clear that municipalities and other public employers are not construction employers was carried.

Resolutions and Directions to Staff

9.1.1 – Council approved the purchase order for a 7-Ton Truck at a cost of about $187,000 plus HST.

9.1.2 – Council also approved the Pubic Work’s request for a Stand-by Generator and the application of additional budgeted and unspent funds on replacing and upgrading electrical connections at various sewage pumping stations.

9.1.3 – the Town will be getting a couple new trucks with Council’s approval of Public Work’s request for one ¾-ton and one 1/2-ton truck. These trucks were purchased for much less than the budgeted amounts.

9.1.4 – a request to approve a Commemorative Dedication Policy and Application was postponed pending the formation of a Parks Committee and presumably their preparation of an overall parks plan. Staff was directed to return to Council with a proposal for the formation of a Parks Committee and the appropriate Terms of Reference. I think it will be valuable for the Town to understand how residents and volunteers feel the recreation areas should evolve. It probably doesn’t make sense to cut down all the trees in Yvonne Williams Park to create a soccer field, nor does it make sense to take out the gardens on Tower Hill and put in swings and monkey bars. These examples are presented tongue in cheek to make the point that each area should have a defined role and use that will help guide future development.

9.2.1 – the EMS group received approval for the purchase of a new 2013 4×4 Crew Cab pickup after a little bit of debate on the merits of spending a little more for a 2014 model.

9.2.2 – Council also approved technology upgrades for the 16 or so EMS vehicles.

9.3.1 – Council agreed to support the application for funding to the TD Friends of the Environment to in support of Mission Park.

9.4.1 – the direction to prepare an amendment to the water billing by-law was approved.

9.5.1 – a change of a residential street address was carried.

9.6.1 – a request from Councillor Borneman that the town make a donation to Lac-Mégantic, Quebec was approved in the amount of $1,000. There was also considerable discussion regarding the disaster and the agreement to draft and send a letter to the federal government with appropriate copies to the railways, expressing a desire to have greater accountability and transparency with regards to the transporting of hazardous materials by rail.

By-Laws

10.1.1 – Council approved a by-law to permit the Ministry of Transportation to repair drainage issues affecting the Highway 400/Mill Lake Pedestrian Underpass. This project might be completed as soon as mid-September.

10.3.1 – the Downtown Business Association received approval for the revised and updated Downtown Improvement Area. The discussion was spirited with a few twists and turns that made it interesting to follow. In the end a couple of amendments were defeated in 4 to 3 votes, and the final by-law approved by a similar 4 to 3 vote. Thank goodness we are done with that issue, for good or for ill (although I’ll place a bet of good).

10.3.2 – the Deputy clerk was appointed as Head under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

10.4.1 – Council approved an extension of the agreement with NCO Financial Services Inc.

10.5.1 – College Drive has been assumed by the Town of Parry Sound.

10.5.2 – Council agreed to put up for sale a small parcel of property behind a lot on Parry Sound Road.

These notes review only those portions of the council meeting that I see as having greater importance or general community interest. Please see my earlier Council Agenda Preview post for more discussion and details concerning the various agenda items.

The official minutes from council meetings are available at the Town of Parry Sound website, no later than the Friday following the meeting. The full council proceeding are available on video through Cogeco. Schedule details are available from the town office (705-746-2101).

Parry Sound in Black and White (June 2013)

ParrySights-8089

Lac-Megantic – Railroaded’s Thoughts

17 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Parry Sound, Safety, Suggestions, Town Council

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parry sound, safety, Town Council, train

At last night’s meeting of Parry Sound Council there was agreement that the town would send a letter to the federal authorities among others requesting better regulation and information sharing with respect to the operation of trains that travel through Parry Sound and other communities across Canada.

A number of suggested points and subjects were raised for inclusion in the letter.

May I recommend that Staff and Council read this short post at the website Railroaded for some suggestion of key points that might be included? As always this website offers an opinionated but, in my opinion, a reasonably balanced perspective on rail safety in Canada.

No photo this post. Check out the images online or in print in case you need some help understanding the magnitude of this issue.

Council Agenda Preview – July 16, 2013

15 Monday Jul 2013

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Parry Sound, Town Council

≈ Comments Off on Council Agenda Preview – July 16, 2013

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Agenda, By-Law, DBA, Parks, parry sound, Planning, PS Power, Rezoning, safety, Smoking, Tower Hill, Town Council, train

It looks like a packed agenda this week, don’t expect to be out too early if any of the subjects require very much discussion. The town departments are requesting authorization to purchase new equipment that amounts to about $300,000. It’s all in the budget so I don’t expect too much time being spent on these items.

The closed session agenda includes Parry Sound Hydro Corporation and Lakeland Holding Ltd. I assume this is an update to Council about the status of discussions and the current proposal. There is an outside chance that Council may be reviewing and approving a definitive agreement or term sheet. Let’s see if anything gets brought forward to the open session of council.

Correspondence and Deputations

4.1 – a letter from Stewardship Ontario regarding funding for the Town’s Blue Box Recycling Program.

4.2 – a letter from Seguin Valley Golf Club offering a golfing discount for community First Responders.

4.3 – a letter from Joel Kennedy on behalf of his clients regarding the proposed boundary changes to the Downtown Business Improvement area. They don’t like certain aspects of the proposed change. It looks as though this whole boundary change process may take longer than the Charitable Waste Program approved last year.

4.4 – a request that Council consider adding multi-unit dwellings to the municipal by-law that prohibits smoking in work and leisure areas.

4.5 – a rebuttal by the Parry Sound Downtown Business Association regarding the request to remove Market Square Park from the proposed downtown boundary amendment.

5.1 – I’ll be making a deputation on the Memorial Trees and Plaques item that is on the agenda this evening (9.1.4)

Consent Agenda

8.1 – a resolution requesting the federal and provincial governments take a proactive role in managing and preventing outbreaks of imported forestry related diseases.

8.2 – a resolution asking the Province of Ontario to amend the Labour Relations Act, 1995, to make it clear that municipalities and other public employers are not construction employers

Resolutions and Directions to Staff

9.1.1 – Council is being asked to formally approve the purchase order for a 7-Ton Truck at a cost of about $187,000 plus HST.

9.1.2 – council is also being asked to approve the purchase order for a Stand-by Generator, for about $48,950 plus HST. I guess this is a little like an insurance policy. You hope you’ll never need to use it. Because this generator came in under budget Public Works is requesting the balance, about $21,000, be applied to replacing and upgrading electrical connections at various sewage pumping stations.

9.1.3 – this is a purchase order approval request to order the new 3/4-ton and 1/2-ton trucks. These vehicles were the subject of considerable debate earlier this year when staff was requested to investigate used vehicles. The costs for the two vehicles were $27,608 and $29,000, plus tax, including two trade-ins. These figures are well below the budgeted figures and give me confidence that should the town ever face a flood situation we have experienced people to organize the sandbagging operation.

9.1.4 – this is a request to approve a Commemorative Dedication Policy and Application. It’s also the subject of my deputation to Council. I see the proposal as well thought out but will urge the community to have a greater involvement in this program and the development of policy for the town’s parks. Many different groups are taking ‘ownership’ of the various parks in the absence of adequate Town support, and it will be important to ensure that their actions are consistent with the interests of town residents. I will be requesting the creation of a Park’s Committee to provide the Town with input and support regarding the use and development of our very precious parkland.

9.2.1 – another truck purchase request this time for the EMS group. The cost is $28,057 plus taxes for a 2013 F150 4×4 Crew Cab pickup plus another $20,000 for customization to meet their particular needs.

9.2.2 – this time it’s a request to purchase auto vehicle informatics for the District EMS vehicles, presumably communication and computer upgrades. The cost is about $62,000.

9.3.1 – request for council to support the application of a funding request to the TD Friends of the Environment to support a project in Mission Park.

9.4.1 – a direction to amend a by-law to read “actual consumption based on meter readings” related to water use and to advise customers that the next billing cycle will be delayed about a month.

9.5.1 – a change of a residential street address.

9.6.1 – a request from Councillor Borneman that the town make a donation to Lac-Mégantic, Quebec. (My note – there but for the grace of the fates go we.)

By-Laws

10.1.1 – a by-law to permit the Ministry of Transportation to repair drainage issues affecting the Highway 400/Mill Lake Pedestrian Underpass.

10.3.1 – the Downtown Business Association once again has their boundary change request before Council. I’m not taking bets on what is in, or out, of the revised area, or whether it will be finalized at this meeting. Tough decisions need to be made.

10.3.2 – the appointment of the Deputy clerk as Head under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

10.4.1 – an extension of the agreement with NCO Financial Services Inc. and the Town of Parry Sound to collect outstanding fines for the provincial court.

10.5.1 – the assumption of College Drive by the Town of Parry Sound.

10.5.2 – the transfer of town property behind a lot on Parry Sound Road.

That’s pretty much it. See you Tuesday.

You Have a Friend in Pennsylvania (Captured on Bay Street Last Week)

ParrySights_IMG_0231

Note: Not all agenda items are necessarily covered here. I typically skip those items that have little material impact on the town. These items include simple requests for Tag Days (permission to canvas), Awareness Weeks/Months, road closures for civic events, and the like. Want to see everything that is on the agenda? The full agenda can be found at the town’s website (http://townofparrysound.com/pagesmith/14).

Lac-Megantic (A British Opinion)

12 Friday Jul 2013

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Safety, Train

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

safety, train

Here’s a link to an interesting British perspective on the Lac-Megantic disaster. I won’t disagree with their position. (A tip of the hat to the reader who passed on this article.)

Special Meeting of Council – 2013-07-09

10 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Parry Sound, Town Council, Urban Development

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Council Minutes, Growth, parry sound, Planning, Rezoning

This is just a short post on last night’s special meeting of council.

Last night’s meeting focused on two last-minute requests for zoning designation changes in the Town’s Official Plan. The first of these was the change of a single property from Commercial to Residential. That item was not controversial and was approved by Council without any discussion. I guess this means the property cannot be sold as a commercial property or used for ‘commercial’ purposes. The change seems consistent with it’s current use and the neighbourhood.

The second change garnered much more discussion and three deputations (including one by me). The issue concerned a last minute request to revise the Official Plan designation of property on the east side of Louisa Street, just north of the Starbucks/Canadian Tire gas bar, from Industrial to Commercial. The intention is to develop this property for commercial use, presumably shops and services, over a period of years. There are no plans to start anything now.

The prospect of new development was welcomed by Council and those who made deputations. The issue for some, including me, was that this was a change to the Official Plan that was not going through the proscribed review process involving the town and residents. It struck me as ‘hot wiring’ the process of review and approval.

In the end Council chose to delay the submission of the Official Plan to permit the appropriate review process for the industrial to commercial zoning change. This may mean a three-month delay in submitting the Final Official Plan. The property will still need to go through the usual rezoning and permitting processes. Including the change in the Draft Official Plan only ensures there is no conflict between the Official Plan and local zoning that would require a later application to the province for an amendment (apparently a not very simple process).

Progress and Process working together. Seems like a win-win to me.

Parry Sound in Black and White. (June 2013)

ParrySights-8070

The Gooey Kablooie

07 Sunday Jul 2013

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Parry Sound, Reflections, Safety

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

parry sound, safety, train

Fans of Calvin and Hobbes will remember that Calvin’s favourite bedtime story was ‘Hamster Huey and the Gooey Kablooie’. Well it seems we’ve seen a big, and by all reports, a ‘gooey’ kablooie.

I have been asked by several individuals why I haven’t been ‘commenting’ on the recent series of rail misadventures.There have been so many ‘accidents’ that is seems surreal. It’s sort of like the weather. Why spend too much time on what you can’t change. Changes start with a desire to change. And from what I have seen the Town of Parry Sound isn’t ready to change. The reasons in support of the status quo range from apathy, an honest romantic notion of trains chugging across Canada opening up a vast wilderness, to a sense that trains drive Canadian economy.  A ‘What’s good for General Bullmoose is good for the USA” way of thinking. Mostly though it’s apathy. People reason its not that bad and they don’t think they can do anything about it. Much like the vague sense people have regarding weather and climate change.

Well Lac-Mégantic has provided us with a real-life definition of ‘that bad’. A train with more than seventy cars of crude oil exploded in town, killing residents, burning down many buildings and polluting the local river. Check in with www.cbc.ca for updates.

This is no tornado, earthquake or some other ‘Act of God’. This is an ‘Act of Commerce’.

Rail cars carrying bulk crude oil roll through Parry Sound day and night. Heading south they carry crude oil. Heading north I suspect they are empty, traveling west to be refilled.

Considering just the southbound track in Parry Sound, the rail cars pass through four street crossings (two gated), go over four bridges/trestles, and in the process cross the Seguin River. Pollute the river and you pollute Georgian Bay, killing wildlife and the local economy. The potential for misadventure is remarkably high. And as we have seen in Lac-Mégantic it’s more than a ‘theoretical’ risk.

As a member of Parry Sound’s Rail Safety Committee I’ve been told that we have a plan in place to handle a rail emergency. Does it include rebuilding half the town? Is it perhaps worth the time and effort to develop in parallel a plan that eliminates the possibility of a Lac-Mégantic type disaster?

But, until the town, including residents, council and staff decides to get off of its apathetic ass nothing will happen.

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling – Keep Them Tankers Rolling.

ParrySights-2055Ahh – the romance of the rails.

Council Meeting Notes – July 2, 2013

04 Thursday Jul 2013

Posted by Jo Bossart/ParrySounds.com in Parry Sound, Town Council

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By-Law, Council Minutes, DBA, parry sound, Rezoning, Town Council, Water Management

The meeting was about as short as initially thought even with the addition of two deputations. In part this reflected the light agenda and the absence of three councillors which resulted in fewer councillor reports and the postponement of one item that council felt would be better decided by the full group.

Councillors and Mayor Reports, Questions of Staff

The water filling station on Parry Sound Drive is currently being installed.

Contractors have begun the upgrade of the waste water pump station at the corner of Beaver and Meadow Streets with a targeted completion of mid-September.

The Mayor expressed concern and dismay about the lack of respect people are showing for the town. He was referring specifically to the flowers that had been torn out of the planters along the side of the Bowes Street Bridge. The question is whether they are being vandalized or stolen. I was made aware of another situation in town where some ‘ladies’ were confronted when taking flowers from town property and expressed neither remorse nor a willingness to replant them.

Correspondence and Deputation

There were two unscheduled deputations. The first was primarily concerned with the Downtown Business Association (DBA) adding Market Square Park to the Downtown Improvement Area. The case was made that the park didn’t belong in the area and its inclusion could have a negative impact on the park. The points were general and didn’t identify any particular risks. This was also the subject of a letter to Council.

The deputation above brought a response from the chairperson of the DBA arguing that inclusion would be good for the park and the DBA, and that this was common in other communities.

Consent Agenda

There was nothing on the Consent Agenda.

Resolutions and Directions to Staff

7.1 – this item came from the closed council session and set certain reporting conditions for Parry Sound Taxi. This relates to the filing of provincial charges against at least one of Parry Sound Taxi’s drivers. Very little information was provided.

7.2 – again from the closed session, there will be some changes in fire fighter retirement ages.

7.3 – the last item from the closed session approved some changes in pension plans. Although little detail was provided Councillor McCauley offered to provide more information to anyone interested.

 9.5.1 – a resolution to permit Canadore College to use town property for a sign at the intersection of Parry Sound Drive and College Drive was approved.

9.5.2 – the BOCC Ice Allocation Policy was approved with limited discussion. The corresponding by-law, 10.5.3, received more discussion and reflected a little bit of anguish on the part of the councillors.

9.5.3 – the resolution to revitalize the skate park facility in line with a proposal from Parry Sound Bicycle and Town Staff was approved with limited discussion, and great hope. I feel the approval was a little premature, proposals for less expensive projects have received much more scrutiny from Council. But I’m hopeful that it will be a good investment. Council should be reminded that at the 2013 budget sessions they agreed that investing in the park was not a great idea because it has a limited season and so few of the youth in Parry Sound were likely to use it. But that reserve amount seemed to be ‘burning a hole in their pocket’. Because the money has already been ‘reserved’ it has no impact on the budget so there really was no downside for Council with their approval. And it meant one last thing to deal with in the future.

By-Laws

10.3.1 – the Downtown Business Association boundary adjustment by-law was postponed. The issue as noted above in the deputations is related to Market Square Park’s inclusion in the DBA area. Personally I’m torn on this issue. I see no real reason to deny the inclusion of the park in the DBA area, but I have not been given any good reason to include it. Just because other communities do it really doesn’t mean we should. I think what we have here is ‘failure to communicate’. Other than the park area it seems the DBA and Council have reached agreement on the boundaries while excluding several properties on Miller Street. Stay tuned.

10.5.1 – this by-law to provide Town staff with the authority to authorize special events that make use of municipal roads was approved with only a couple minor points of clarification.

10.5.2 – the rezoning by-law to permit the Age in Place facility on College Drive to proceed was carried.

10.5.3 – a by-law to set the 2013 ice rental rates for the Bobby Orr Community Centre was approved with concern on the part of the three Councillors in attendance. The 2013 rates were set about 20% lower than last year in hopes of securing more rental business. The arenas in the surrounding communities apparently charge significantly less than at the BOCC and have been taking market share from Parry Sound. This results in an increased facility deficit. The lower rates for 2013 will quite likely not improve the facility’s use for the upcoming season, but it might have a positive impact in future years once the pricing policy is understood and groups decide to return. There is also the issue of the declining youth population who are major users of the ice surface. As the town focuses on attracting an elderly population it will mean less use of the BOCC ice surface. How many physicians recommend that seniors take up ice skating for exercise? Well maybe orthopedic surgeons looking for more business ;-). The town needs to think about how the BOCC fits into the scheme of services it provides for the town and the community. It’s much like Waubuno Beach which is operated at a loss, albeit a much smaller one.

These notes review only those portions of the council meeting that I see as having greater importance or general community interest. Please see my earlier Council Agenda Preview post for more discussion and details concerning the various agenda items.

The official minutes from council meetings are available at the Town of Parry Sound website, no later than the Friday following the meeting. The full council proceeding are available on video through Cogeco. Schedule details are available from the town office (705-746-2101).

Flames Over Parry Sound. (July 2013)

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