Water and sewer accounts
Councillor Hugh Moggy asked CAO Alton Hobbs about the municipality’s water and sewer arrears. It was noted that four or five properties have been sent to a lawyer to be registered for tax sale.
2016 marina services report
Council reviewed the 2016 marina services report prepared by clerk Jeremy Rody.
It explains that during the past years, the marina has operated at annual losses of $41,000 and $46,000, respectively.
“The Bay Street Marina has traditionally been staffed like a full service marina, however the revenues and expenditures do not reflect a need for it to be operated in this way,” the report notes. “Staff is proposing that the Township reduces the services offered at the marina while still keeping it open to seasonal and transient boaters.”
The clerk proposed changes such as a set date and time for fuel and pumpouts and a collection box for ramp fees. “This would allow the marina to operate without it being staffed on a daily basis. If a maintenance person is hired, they would be able to handle all of the marina maintenance and service requirements that would normally have been taken care of by the marina manager.”
“If it works, I think it is a really good idea,” said Councillor Leslie Fields.
Councillor Moggy questioned the loss as it relates to staff salaries. Mr. Hobbs responded that a portion of the loss was due to salaries, but also to dock repairs, hydro, telephone and more. “I don’t think we’ll save the full amount,” he admitted.
“I’m all for saving money, but are we just going to let the marina deteriorate?” Councillor Moggy asked.
The councillor also noted that he heard complaints of staff not being helpful. Councillor Fields countered that she heard a lot of compliments, adding that she spends much of her summer at the marina. “I’m told time and again that it’s a hidden gem,” she said, adding that she was unsure why public works couldn’t take on some of the work previously done by marina staff.
“It’s too bad it can’t be leased,” Councillor Moggy said.
Mayor Paul Moffat agreed, adding “maybe down the road.”
Building permit report
Council reviewed the 2015 building permit report submitted by Gerry Strong, chief building officer. A total of 23 permits were issued at $8,553 with a total value of construction of $1,124,100. The breakdown is as follows: new homes, three; new cottages, one; residential renos and additions, nine; cottage renos and additions, four; agriculture buildings, one; institutional and commercial renos, four; and demolition, one.
The number of permits is comparable to 2014.
Accounts payable
Council passed a motion to authorize the following accounts for payment: general, $36,523.25; and payroll, $17,771.74.
Manor motion
Council received a request from the Manitoulin Centennial Manor board of directors, asking them to pass a resolution, which would ask the provincial government to increase funding to long term care facilities.
“Good luck,” said Councillor Fields, “but you’ve got to do it, I know.”
Mayor Moffat, chair of the Manor board, said that while the Manor is “doing alright” at the moment, that is subject to change, noting that the provincial increase the Manor is set to receive is in the range of two percent. “We’re operating on a razor’s edge.”
The mayor commended the Manor staff and said the resolution was a way of putting the government on the “hot seat.”
Salmon Classic
Assiginack council has given its full support to the new Manitoulin Expositor Salmon Classic, passing a motion to advertise for a three-week student position to operate the Manitowaning weigh-in station.
Michael White asked council for permission to speak, explaining that he is in full support of the Salmon Classic and offering his volunteer services as a back-up person for the weigh-in station. Mayor Moffat thanked him very much for his offer.
Fixing our Felines
The Assiginack animal welfare group Fixing our Felines was given a $200 donation which will be made a permanent line item in the budget moving forward.
Burns Wharf consultants
Council received a letter from Castellan James and Partners Architects Inc. regarding Burns Wharf Theatre. For the fee of $9,800 plus disbursements plus HST, the architects proposed to prepare an Ontario Fire Code review of the building identifying key building deficiencies and prepare an Ontario Building Code review in support of the Ontario Fire Code review and will “identify broad barrier-free design issues that are related to the fire code and building code.”
Councillor Fields suggested that there were cost saving measures such as having public works measure the building, saving the firm a trip from Sudbury. Once a final figure has been set, it will be considered as part of the budget process.
McLay Subdivision
Council reviewed an application for a two-phase plan of subdivision from the Manitoulin Planning Board for the Davis and McLay Subdivision in Bidwell, asking for comments or concerns.
Council responded with resolution #29-02-16: “That council is requesting that the Manitoulin Planning Board consider the adequacy of the roads surrounding the proposed subdivision, specifically Red Lodge Road; and that a condition requiring Red Lodge Road to be hard surfaced according to provincial standards, be included in the Plan of Subdivision Agreement.”
The hard surfacing of Red Lodge Road has been a contentious issue for the residents of the road, with Assginack agreeing to pay its share of the work, but with the Northeast Town allowing that the road isn’t high on its list of priorities.
