October 6, 2020: Mayor's Report
WELCOME everyone and thank you for your continued interest in our community and for supporting our local businesses during these trying times. Also, a very sincere thank you to our municipal staff for their continued dedication to providing services, the front line workers in our municipality and to the residents who are adhering to the public health regulations to prevent COVID outbreaks in our community.
September 17th
I attended the meeting of the Crowe Valley Conservation Authority. Tim Pidduck, the Manager, reported on a number of issues:
The entrance to the Gut Conservation area is dangerous and needs attention. Four neighbouring municipalities share maintenance of the road;
Callaghan's Rapids is being damaged by unlawful use and abuse of the area primarily by ATV users. They are creating trails beyond the EOTA trail through the scientifically identified wetlands. Other users are camping illegally and leaving garbage. A community group has organized and is willing to help bring the situation under control. They will work with trail operators and the conservation authority to find a solution.
September 19th
I participated in the annual tree giveaway organized by Deputy Mayor Stevens. Trees are donated by Quinte Conservation Authority. Thank you Mike and thank you to the volunteers who helped with distributing trees. Residents were very appreciative of the trees.
September 21st
I attended the office to meet with the CAO to deal with various municipal issues.
September 24th
I attended Hastings County Council. Medical cannabis grow-ops are an ongoing enforcement problem. Letters are being sent to the various ministries to encourage change to legislation both federal and provincial.
October is “Child Abuse Prevention Month” and it is recommended that the colour purple be worn in recognition of support to prevent Child Abuse. Therefore I declare that October is Child Abuse Prevention Month in the Municipality of Marmora and Lake and that October 27th is Dress Purple Day.
There was a discussion that more opportunities for COVID testing be made available to Central Hastings. I offered the fairgrounds as a possible location.
The EMS has been given the authority to research locations for a new ground ambulance location in Central Hastings. I have discussed the matter with Hastings County CAO, Jim Pine, and he suggested that we send a letter of intent to Hastings County. Therefore, I recommend that staff be directed to send a letter of intent advising Hastings County Paramedic Services that Marmora and Lake have an interest in being a host location for a new EMS Services location and that staff be authorized to discuss various options and locations and report back to Council.
September 26th
Crowe Valley Waterways had scheduled its annual AGM. I prepared a report at the request of their President to be read at the AGM. (Due to increasing numbers the meeting was postponed).
September 29th
I attended the Crowe Valley Conservation to meet with representatives of Callaghan's Rapids. We discussed options for putting up barricades and signs. New signs put up in the last month have already been vandalized and removed. It was agreed that EOTA needs to be involved and I agreed to get a contact at AECON to determine if they could help with placing barriers.
September 29th
I attended the Economic Development Advisory Committee Meeting as a delegation. The Economic Development Advisory Committee is the most important committee-of-council at this time. Survival post-COVID is critical to our businesses and the Committee members are representatives of our business community. Tammy May is our new Economic Development Co-ordinator and she has been in contact and assisted businesses with some technical and marketing issues.
September 30th
I responded to various citizens’ concerns
October 2nd
I was invited to participate in a Zoom Teleconference Meeting hosted by Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lt. Governor of Ontario. Women/female mayors across Ontario were invited to participate. The focus of the meeting was women’s roles in the recovery of the economy post COVID. Most front line workers are traditionally women. Women are usually the primary child care providers and sometimes single mothers. Child Care services have not reopened to the previous COVID( capacity. This prevents women from re-entering the workforce.
October 7th
We held an Emergency Control Group Meeting. COVID is definitely in the second wave.
We need to remain vigilant in our decision making and take the necessary steps to ensure both staff and the public are safe.
This brings me to the point of holding in-person meetings. This was discussed today by the Emergency Control Group and a consensus was reached and it was unanimously concluded that council meetings continue to be held virtually. Until there is absolute proof that in-person meetings can be held without risk to council, staff and the public, it is our intention to continue to hold virtual meetings live-streamed through Facebook. Further to that, there is new legislation that masks must be worn in public areas indoors except for individual offices.
(Information provided from AMO Medical Measures re COVID 19 and it is available on the website)
I remind you that you may have items placed on the Agenda for Council’s consideration on matters that have not already been considered by Council by presenting and/or sending a letter to the Clerk no later than noon on Wednesday prior to the regularly scheduled meeting. All meetings are announced on the Marmora and Lake website in accordance with our procedural by-law.
At 4:30 I attended the Planning and Development Meeting, then the Committee of Adjustment Meeting and now our regularly scheduled Municipal Council Meeting.
Thank you to all residents for completing the Budget survey. The budget schedule and public meeting schedules are on the website.
I would like to bring your attention to a particular announcement that was placed on the Marmora and Lake website. It was a picture of the Skene Road culvert replacement completed by our works department staff. This in-house construction saved the municipality approximately $400,000 to $500,000 (final savings to be determined upon completion of the project).
On behalf of myself and Council, thank you to Dylan Adams, Manager, for your innovation and leadership and to the works crew for doing a great job.
Finally, we have been very blessed in this area to be spared from the severe impact of COVID, unlike the more populated cities and regions. Thank you for your individual attention and adherence to the rules and regulations that keep our community safe. We have much to be thankful for. On behalf of myself and Council, I wish to extend wishes to all our staff and residents for a very Happy Thanksgiving.