Staff
After passing a resolution last month to pursue changes and enhancements to local doctor recruitments efforts in Fort Frances, town council is authorizing the Rainy River Future Development Corp. to develop terms of reference and a revision to the current model of the doctor recruitment committee.
Council approved a report from Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig on Monday night, in which McCaig told council their resolution was put forward at a Dec. 18 meeting with the Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee.
The result of the discussion was that the town representatives would approach mayor and council to request the town sponsor “an external entity” to develop new terms of reference for the Doctor Recruitment and Retention Committee, as well as examine the current model for potential revisions and enhancements.
The issue then was brought forward as a non-agenda item at the Jan. 5 meeting of the Administration and Finance executive committee.
It recommended the town approach the RRFDC to develop the terms of reference and revisions to the current model of the doctor recruitment committee.
Meanwhile, with the 2010 budget not expected to be finalized until late March or April, council agreed Monday night to institute an interim tax levy.
As in previous years, the interim levy is equal to about half of the total amount of taxes property owners paid in 2009.
Interim tax levies are a means to secure revenue to keep operating while council determines the final tax rates for 2010.
Implementing interim tax levies is a common practice each January. It is permissible under the Municipal Act, 2001.
Interim tax bills will be sent out shortly.
Fifty percent of the levy will be due and payable by Feb. 26, with the balance due by March 31 (the last working day in that month).
In other news, after receiving several complaints from residents about not getting their garbage picked up, Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown said people must remember to put out their trash at the curbside no later 8 a.m. if they want it taken away.
This is as per the town bylaw put into place in 2004.
He also noted some people have not been putting bag tags on their garbage bags or type ‘A’ receptacles, and thus not getting their garbage taken away.
Brown reminded the public that each residence gets one free bag or type ‘A’ receptacle, and that they have to put a bag tag on each one beyond the first.
Also at Monday night’s meeting, council:
•directed Community Services manager George Bell to work with community partners to secure funding for a child care feasibility study;
•agreed to change the start time for the Jan. 25 council meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 10 a.m. (this is due to the fact mayor and council have to go to Thunder Bay for a conference later that day);
•agreed to donate $104 to the Fort Frances Curling Club for the Inter-Regional 1 & 2 senior playdowns which took place here Jan. 7-10;
•agreed to purchase a 2010 membership to the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and Museum at a cost of $60;
•agreed to purchase a 2010 membership to the North Western Ontario Tourism Association (NWOTA) at a cost of $70; and
•passed a resolution in support of the combined efforts of AbitibiBowater Inc. and CEP Canada in their submission of a joint trust fund designed to protect the pensions of company workers and retirees.
