AORS Roadeo in Renfrew County this September
Madawaska Valley Council began its June 18 meeting with a delegation from Steve Boland of the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors (AORS). Boland said that the 26th annual AORS Provincial Safety Truck Roadeo would be held for the first time in Renfrew County at the Laurentian Valley Public Works Depot. After listing the features and benefits of the event which draws competitors and visitors from across the Province, Boland asked for Council’s support if any Township staff wished to volunteer or compete in the September 10-11 Roadeo. Council thanked Boland and said they would notify Operations staff. (Photo above shows Steve Boland at left, addressing Councillor Mark Willmer and Mayor Kim Love. Councillors David Shulist and Ernie Peplinski not shown; Councillor Carl Bromwich was absent.)
Peplinski criticizes Canada Day grant distribution
During consideration of the Recreation and Community Development minutes, Councillor Peplinski expressed dissatisfaction with how the Canada Day Grant funding application was dealt with. He said, “In future I would like to have a bigger discussion and make sure that the money is divided a little differently.” Referring to the grant application he said, “Someone in isolation is filling this in and obviously it’s not reflecting the true nature of the whole situation.” He also referred to the situation as going “back two years” and being “embarrassing.” In response Recreation Committee Chair Mark Willmer pointed out that the application was due last November during the transition to the new Council. CAO/Clerk Sue Klatt said she had met with the Combermere Recreation Committee to explain that they need to observe such deadlines in future. She said, “As stated we have made that invitation to the [Combermere Recreation] Committee and inside the Recreation Committee with Council as the place for that discussion to happen.” Willmer stated in response to Peplinski’s criticisms that, “We need to make it fair and equitable and let’s do it.”
“A better place to live”
Council discussed correspondence from the Solicitor General regarding the requirement to implement a Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) plan. Mayor Love said it was an inappropriate requirement for a lower tier municipality that cannot control the various elements of such a plan apart from paying for OPP. Deputy Clerk Gwen Dombroski had attended a recent session regarding Bancroft’s CSWB. She said it is revisited monthly and also said that she learned that while it did not reduce their OPP costs, the economic development benefits made the town “a better place to live.” Council asked to see the Bancroft CSWB.
Other matters
- Council officially appointed Amanda Hudder as Treasurer and Janice Brisson Zelney as Deputy Treasurer by By-Law.
- Council reviewed a draft Asset Management Policy provided by Treasurer Amanda Hudder, which is required by July 1. They approved it with minor amendments.
- Before the meeting closed, Councillor Willmer reminded Council that they had yet to review and amend the Township’s Strategic Plan The Path Forward (which expires this year) and the Economic Development Plan (which expired in 2014). Readers may recall Council said it would review these on March 27, but a meeting was never held to do so. He requested an early date and Council agreed to schedule a full Council in Committee meeting day for the purpose in August.
- Council approved the low bid for Tender MV-2019-04 Hot Mix pavement from H&H Construction for $508,913.03 incl HST.
Due to calendar conflicts, the August 20 Council meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on August 27 instead and the September 3 Council in Committee meeting will be moved to 10 a.m. on September 4. There is no meeting currently scheduled for July.
