April 26, 2004
Committee of the Whole: 9:06 a.m. – 6:18 p.m.
Evening Meeting: 7:05 p.m. – 8:25 p.m.
All Members of Council present.
CONFIDENTIAL / CLOSED SESSION: 3:16 p.m. – 4:54 p.m.
SITE 41 AND MAYOR KLUG AND DEPUTY MAYOR MAURICE: Councillor Panasiuk raised the issue of Council’s representation on the Site 41 Community Monitoring Committee. He spoke about the conflicting responsibilities Mayor Klug and Deputy Mayor Paul Maurice must often experience as Tiny Township’s representatives at the County of Simcoe and emphasized that each of them has a right to his opinion. He recalled the Mayor saying that when he was at County, he was a County person, and when in Tiny, a Tiny Township person.
The CMC is comprised of 3 individuals who live near Site 41, 1 representative from the County of Simcoe, and 2 representatives from the Council of Tiny Township. In Panasiuk’s view, Council’s representatives, should express Council’s view. The vote on a moratorium on Site 41 (see the Report on Council for March 8) was 3 to 1 in favour, with Mayor Klug dissenting. It was clear therefore that Mayor Klug would find it difficult to represent the views of the majority of Council on the CMC. Panasiuk urged Council to decide whether the Mayor should sit on the CMC. There is no public record of Deputy Mayor Maurice’s position on Site 41 as he was away on vacation when the vote was taken on a moratorium.
Councillor Ray Miller said that he shared Councillor Panasiuk’s concerns.
Deputy Mayor Maurice said that he wished to state his views on Site 41 for the public record. He would go further than a moratorium – he would prefer that Site 41 be stopped. He feels that he is responsible to Tiny Township first, and to the County second.
Councillor Peggy Breckenridge asked the Mayor whether he would have voted differently were he not on County Council. The answer was No.
It was decided that the vote on Council’s representation at the CMC would to be taken on May 10.
GARBAGE: In response to the presentation at the previous meeting of Council by a representative from the County of Simcoe, Council decided to go to a 3-bag limit per week per household, with tags to be issued once a year and used when each household chooses. They decided against a voucher system for heavy pickup. County has informed the Township that there is to be a 20% increase in the cost of the garbage contract, so Council decided to ask whether County was following its own Financial Procedures Bylaw and getting competitive quotations on the contract. (Tiny produces the 2nd lowest volume of garbage in the County, probably because of its large seasonal population.)
DISCUSSION OF PRESENTATIONS BY RESIDENTS: In response to Dorene Trunk’s presentation about Jackson Park, the Personal Watercraft Committee, and the Boating Restriction, Council agreed that safety information should be given out by Bylaw Officers in Jackson Park, that the Public Works Department should be asked for their views about placing of buoys in D’Aoust’s Bay, that a legal opinion should be sought about liability associated with placing buoys, that the Township’s Insurance Company should be asked about liability associated with a marine patrol, and that the status of the requested extension of the Boating Restriction should be checked.
Janet Evans, wife of former Clerk/CAO Earl Evans, was to be thanked for her deputation, the information it contained acknowledged, and action taken where it would serve the best interests of the community.
With regard to Vern Owen concern’s about speeding in the Bluewater Georgina Wendake Beaches area, Council decided that Sergeant Greg Skinner should be asked about the issue when he comes to explain the OPP’s budget. The relevant Township department is looking into parking and safety on Wendake Road.
PRESENTATION BY LOCAL HOSPITAL EXECUTIVES: Carol Lambie of the Penetanguishene Hospital and Gordon Key of the Huronia District Hospital presented a compelling report about hospital services, efficiencies, and financing problems. A basic problem is that the government bases its funding of the two hospitals on the area’s permanent population – 55,000 – yet, in the summer, the population swells to 100,000. There is no funding for capital needs. Between them the two hospitals have a $1,000,000 deficit.
Physician recruitment is a major problem; 5,000 families are without family doctors and in the next 5 to 10 years a third of local doctors will retire. There is also a shortage of nurses, pharmacists and rehab specialists.
INSURANCE: The treasurer received a quotation from the Frank Cowan Company for General Insurance coverage that represents a saving of $18,000, but he felt uncomfortable changing insurers mid-year. The members of Council felt differently: Tiny will change insurers and save $18,000.
DEPUTATIONS: Former Deputy Mayor Patricia O’Driscoll spoke about the importance of accurate mapping of the 178 metre geodetic line, wetlands and streams, dynamic beaches, and shore parcels. One fact that emerged in discussion was that monuments establishing metres above sea level have been set at intervals from Concessions 1 to 8 along the shore, and at pumping stations to Concession 21. These will make it much easier for surveyors to establish the 178-metre level (or whatever level is finally settled upon). Nothing was said about monuments being set along the northern and eastern shores of Tiny.
Former Mayor Anthony Lancia spoke of his admiration for former Clerk/CAO Earl Evans and urged Council to revise their decision to terminate him.
John Raynor of the Tiny Trail Committee feels that the 10 remaining bridges could be removed and rebuilt for under $700,000 – possibly $580,000. He would like the project to be re-tendered for prefabricated steel bridges. He is concerned that the bridges currently planned cannot carry trail groomers and without grooming the snow mobile club can get no insurance. Council has set a limit of $250,000 for removing and replacing bridges and is unwilling to go higher.
