OPP Visit; Huronia Airport to be reassessed; A Fencing By-law for Tiny?; Purchase of Perkinsfield School a bad investment?; Partial Settlement reached with regard to the proposed Trailer Park and Campground in Concession 2REPORT ON COUNCIL
June 12, 2006
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:01 a.m. – 6:42 p.m.
Regular Evening Meeting: 7:00 p.m. 7:58 p.m.
4 Members of Council present, Councillor Ray Millar absent.
CONFIDENTIAL / CLOSED SESSION: 3:19 p.m. – 6:06 p.m.
OPP VISIT: Inspector Rick Philbin, new head of the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the OPP, which provides policing services in the Township of Tiny, made an introductory visit to Council. He drew attention to the fact that the clearance rate for crimes against property province-wide is 25-26%, whereas in Tiny Township it is only 18-19%, largely because many break-and-enters go unreported until cottages are opened in the spring. He has made it a priority to improve OPP performance in that area, and has already set up a special crime unit. He also spoke about breaking the cycle that produces domestic violence, reducing the number of collisions on provincial highways and municipal roads, and achieving a better police presence on trails and on waterways. He is a keen supporter of the Auxiliary Program (which makes use of skilled volunteers to assist the police), of setting performance standards for the force, and about liaising well with the various communities of his policing area.
Members of Council asked for reassurance that shoreline owners would be served equally with inland owners with regard to assault, unruly conduct, beach fires set without permission, drinking, noise, prowlers, and were told that shoreline owners would receive the same level of service as elsewhere in the Township.
HURONIA AIRPORT TO BE REASSESSED: The Airport Management has still not produced financial statements for the last year, and has not created a business plan. Council discussed withholding all or part of this year’s operating fee, due on June 30, until such records were forthcoming.
A representative from MPAC attended and answered questions (primarily from Councillor Rob Panasiuk) about assessment of the Airport. The key point to emerge was that much of the Airport is exempt from taxation, a situation that is fine when a facility is wholly owned by a single municipality, but which is unfair when a facility is co-owned with others. The upshot was that the Township was to write a letter to MPAC requesting a review of the assessment of the Huronia Airport Commission.
A FENCING BY-LAW FOR TINY? At its meeting on May 8, Council directed staff to assess and review fencing standards in the Township. At this meeting, Shawn Crawford, Chief Municipal Law Enforcement Officer, reported that the Township has By-law 96-111 in place regulating fences that enclose a swimming pool. Beyond that specific situation, the Zoning By-law establishes some basic principles. It says that a fence having a height of 1.8 metres or less is not a structure. A fence of that height can be built on the property line. A fence higher than 1.8 metres is a structure and must conform to the rules for structures, including height determination and setbacks from lot lines.
During the discussion of the Report, Ruth Coursey, the Township’s Clerk/ CAO, and Councillor Rob Panasiuk raised general issues. The Clerk asked what Council wants to regulate regarding fences and what a fencing by-law would be meant to achieve? There was general feeling that there should be a public meeting about the matter. Councillor Panasiuk suggested that the meeting be focused around a series of general questions – should the rules be different for different zones? – should other sorts of visual barriers be considered at the same time? – what purposes (safety, ownership, lot delineation, privacy) do fences serve?
Staff was asked to present Council with a draft notice for discussion.
PURCHASE OF PERKINSFIELD SCHOOL A BAD INVESTMENT? Council has been eyeing the disused school in Perkinsfield as a possible Township meeting place, because of its central location. At the very least the Township needs to acquire part of the school property because part of the rink in the Perkinsfield Park is on it. Unfortunately, formal inspections of the 11,000 square foot building revealed many deficiencies and health hazards – substandard structure, mould and mildew damage, lack of ceiling insulation, antiquated heating system, lack of air-conditioning, a septic system reaching the end of its lifespan, basement flooding, etc. Even demolition would cost roughly $70,000, and that figure doesn’t include removal of the sewage system.
Given the state of the building, Councillor Panasiuk suggested that staff check to see what is required to have a building condemned, as it might then be possible to ask the school boards to share the cost of demolition and removal of the septic system.
PARTIAL SETTLEMENT REACHED WITH REGARD TO THE PROPOSED TRAILER PARK AND CAMP GROUND IN CONCESSION 2: Council signed Minutes of Settlement regarding Dr. Stubbs’s proposed development in Concession 2. Paint Ball has been excluded. But other matters of serious concern have not been dealt with.
Dr. Stubbs is still permitted to install 290 seasonal sites for tents and trailers, seasonal group camping, and 10 cabins for year round use. (If this facility is fully installed, it will house more people than Wyevale, in a part of the Township where our Official Plan says that there are to be no new subdivisions!) The settlement also allows part of the proposed development to occupy land currently zoned Agricultural. In addition, key words like “trailer” and “group camping” and “seasonal” have not been defined.
The County of Simcoe and Dr. Stubbs have not signed Minutes of Settlement, as they have not reached an agreement about road arrangements for the development.
The Township may deal with the definitions of “trailer”, “group camping” and “seasonal” in its Business Licensing By-law, which is due for review and discussion at a public meeting in the near future. (This meeting offers concerned citizens an opportunity to state their views.)
The Minutes of Settlement signed by the Township still have to be approved by the Ontario Municipal Board, which meets on the matter in September.
