Town council faces a jam-packed agenda tonight, including a meeting with the library building committee and several presentations on a variety of topics.
Marlis Bruyere, administrator of the Fort Frances Community Clinic, will give council an update on the Family Health Team here.
Last March, John McTaggart, chair of the Fort Frances Community Clinic Inc. board, spoke to council to explain the advantages of having a community-owned clinic and Family Health Team operating model—in hopes the town would give the non-profit group a $1-million loan to buy the clinic building.
Council ended up finalized the financing deal last July.
Wearing a different hat, McTaggart will speak to council tonight regarding recommendations from the Border Traffic Committee.
This committee was formed in November, following up a resolution from the local Police Services Board to look into two specific areas of concern: immediate traffic issues related to 2008 road and biomass construction, as well as ongoing long-term concerns of tourist traffic returning to the U.S.
As well, local residents Allan T. Bedard and Bill Krukoski will speak to council regarding three concerns, including:
•council’s adoption of an administration recommendation to hire a private investigator to look into “closed door meetings,” rather than utilizing services available through the ombudsman office;
•library construction and its potential impact on taxpayers; and
•community transportation.
Tonight’s committee of the whole meeting is scheduled to start at 4 p.m., but is expected to be in-camera until about 4:30.
In-camera items include appointments to the Fort Frances Non-Profit Housing Corp. board, a committee of adjustment item, annual applications for the Moffat Family Fund, and a business licence.
This will be followed by the meeting regarding the library project from 4:30-5:45 p.m.
As reported last week, council has expressed concerns over how much of the $3.9-million project it will have to fund, and will sit down with the library building committee to discuss project details and possible cost-saving measures.
The regular committee of the whole meeting then will resume and last until about 6:20 p.m., at which time council will meet upstairs. This portion of the evening will feature the aforementioned presentations.
Other business at tonight’s meeting will include:
•a funding agreement for a new decelerometer at the Fort Frances Airport;
•a report regarding the development and maintenance of a quality management system for the municipal drinking water system;
•a report regarding a new position (Public Works labourer/part-time airport attendant);
•a report regarding the town’s policy on filling council vacancies;
•POA audited statements for the year ending Dec. 31, 2007;
•travel expense and per diem claims for Coun. Andrew Hallikas;
•a report regarding town-owned properties on Nelson Street;
•a report regarding the proposed development of a Boston Pizza franchise at 801 King’s Highway;
•a request from the Canadian Cancer Society to proclaim April, 2008 as “Cancer Month” in Fort Frances;
•a request from the Salvation Army to proclaim May, 2008 as “Salvation Army Red Shield Month” in Fort Frances;
•a bylaw to approve an agreement with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. for the financing of post-secondary student co-op work placement under the Northern Ontario Youth Co-Op Program; and
•a bylaw to approve a contract with Toromont Cat for the purchase of wheeled front-end loader.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
