Council Meeting Highlights – June 6, 2023

June 9, 2023
Town News
  • Barbara Penkman, President of the Gananoque Probus Club appeared before Council re: “Community Centre for All” and requested that Council maintain public access to the 2nd floor of the Lou Jeffries Recreation Centre for Community Groups.
  • The following Public Meetings for Class III Development Permits were approved with conditions:   
  1. A short-term accommodation in an owner-occupied building containing three guest rooms at 81-83 Charles Street South;
  2. temporary Kiosk structure at 90 St. Lawrence Street;
  3. A short-term accommodation in an owner-occupied building containing two guest rooms at 88 James Street;
  4. A short-term accommodation in an owner-occupied building containing two guest rooms at 130 King Street East. 
  • The Thousand Islands Youth Boxing Club received a 6-month extension on their lease at 400 Stone Street North until the end of 2023. Council approved a $26,051 budget deviation associated with the 2023 costs of the building.
  • Councillor Osmond requested Council to reconsider a motion previously passed, directing staff to rent the empty space at 400 Stone Street North for a non-municipal use. Council reconsidered the motion, which was carried 5-2. The future of the building will be discussed at the July 2023 meeting.
  • Council received a Staff Report regarding a legal opinion regarding the Municipal Agreement with 1291092 Ontario Inc for information purposes.
  • Council received a staff report regarding the installation of a proposed Canoe and Kayak Launch Dock at Kinsmen Park.  They  did not move forward with the project but directed Staff to monitor the demand for a second launch. 
  • Staff will increase the maintenance of the Canoe and Kayak Dock at Steel Workers Park.
  • Council awarded the Town Hall back up generator tender to Sommers Motor Generator Sales in the amount of $96,106.26 plus the Town’s portion of HST.
  • Council received a report regarding emergency electrical and plumbing work at the Gananoque Municipal Marina (GMM) docks in an amount not to exceed $75,000. Council approved the budget deviation to be funded from the Marina reserves.
  • The proposed after-hour rental surcharge for evening and weekend bookings at Town facilities during the summer was postponed.
  • Council approved the annual raising of the Pride flag at Town Hall during the week of the Pride event.
  • Abigail Webster was appointed to the Gananoque Library Board as a voting Student Member
  • Council approved a request to use a parking space directly in front of Donevan’s on King Street East for a circa 1900 carriage to be displayed each Saturday and/or Sunday between sunrise and sunset in July and August 2023.  
  • Council approved a Motion in support of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry requesting that the Provincial Government pause the proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement. 

Council Direction to Staff: 

  • Mayor Beddows put forward a motion authorizing him to make a Ministerial Delegation at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference 2023 to the Minister of Health and Minister of Municipal Affairs to amend the Ambulance Act to restore mandatory agreements  between municipalities with respect to the provision of land ambulance services in both municipalities and require that providing municipalities be made whole by service recipient municipalities. The motion dissolved due to lack of seconder. 
  • Mayor Beddows put forward a motion authorizing him to make a Ministerial Delegation at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference 2023 to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to amend the Municipal Elections Act to change the date of Municipal Elections to six (6) months before the municipal fiscal year end. The motion dissolved due to lack of seconder.
  • Mayor Beddows put forward a motion authorizing him to make a Ministerial Delegation at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference 2023 to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to amend the Municipal Elections Act to change the date of the municipal fiscal year end to March 31 to match Provincial and Federal fiscal year ends, which Council Defeated 1-6. 
  • Mayor Beddows put forward a motion authorizing him to make a Ministerial Delegation at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference 2023 to the Minister of Minister of Infrastructure / Minister of Transportation / Minister of The Environment and Climate Change / Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to make Application for Funding and Support for Replacement of the Sewage Main from the East End Pumping Station to the lagoons, on top of which the Province built Hwy 401. This motion was carried unanimously.
  • Mayor Beddows put forward a motion to amend the Council Code of Conduct Policy to amend Item #9 “Improper Use of Influence”.  Council approved the addition of the “siblings” to the definition of family members and added under penalties, “any other penalty as recommended by the Integrity Commissioner and confirmed by Council.  This was approved.
  • Mayor Beddows put forward a motion to direct staff to bring back a report amending the policies for Council Grants, Community Grants, Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Grants, and Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT) Grants to explicitly ban “Double Dipping” and by so doing, limit all applications for financial support to single successful grant application from funds controlled by the Town of Gananoque in any calendar year. This motion was defeated 1-6. 
  • Councillor Osmond put forward a motion to direct Staff to bring back a report on the naming of the Town Hall Park Ball Diamond to “The Arlene Cartwright Ball Diamond”.  This was carried.
  • Councillor Harper moved to amend the Procedural By-law to adjourn Council meetings at 9:00PM in place of 10:00PM, which was passed 6-1.