Staff
The Town of Fort Frances is waiting on funding before making any decisions on the banning of plastic bags here.
The decision bye council was reiterated at Monday evening’s town council meeting in response to a proposed by-law submitted by the Township of Emo for review and recommendations, that would see single-use plastic shopping bags banned.
Emo is looking for district support from Fort Frances to make the proposed ban more effective.
Fort Frances Town Council approved a report at Monday evening’s meeting that stated that “at this time it is premature for the Town of Fort Frances to provide any comments on the banning of plastic bags in the Township of Emo as the Town has applied for a grant from [Waste Diversion Ontario] to investigate the plastic bag recycling issue.”
The report to council from the Operations and Facilities Executive Committee noted that under Fort Frances’ Residential Blue Box Waste Recycling Strategy, the town has 10 initiatives/objectives to be completed over the next decade, with one of these being to assess the feasibility of implementing either a small fee on retail plastic bags or a ban on plastic bags.
The town has also applied to Stewardship Ontario to complete this assessment, and is currently waiting to hear whether this funding has been approved.
Once the investigation is completed, the town will provide the findings and recommendations to the Township of Emo.
Also at Monday evening’s meeting, council:
•approved a report to authorize the mayor and clerk to sign the partnership agreements for the delivery of extended day childcare programs with the boards of education;
•approved a report to eliminate the three level volunteer pay structure, approve the volunteer wage rate at the fourth class firefighter wage rate and approve a one year probationary period for new volunteer firefighters at 70 percent of the fourth call firefighters’ wage rate;
•denied a request from the Evangelical Church for an exemption from adhering to calendar parking along Webster Avenue during religious services or events;
•amended the Traffic Control Bylaw so the westerly limit of the approved community safety zone is 40 meters west of McIrvine Road;
•approved the May 2011 Drinking Water Systems Monthly Summary Report
•approved a report that will direct the current Taxi By-Law, 57-05, be amended to remove the colour of vehicle restriction, as per requests made by North Air Services, but maintain the status quo for the by-law concerning annual safeties, vehicle licensing and taxi drivers licenses.
•passed a bylaw to deem Lots 3 and 4 on Plan SM-44 to no longer be lots on a registered plan of subdivision (1107 Second St. East);
•approved a report to authorize an amendment to By-Law 41/10 to authorize a six-month extension to the Option to Purchase from Skypower Limited;
•denied a request from Thunder Bay Truck Centre re: McIrvine Road–Part 3 48R-3747 (Roll #1-088-50); and authorized the clerk to prepare a by-law to establish the property as an unopened road allowance;
•approved a report to authorize the signing of the 2011 Municipal Bear Response Agreement between the town and the MNR;
•approved a report regarding the town’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy;
•approved a report regarding updated Bill 168 Violence and Harassment in the Workplace policies/package;
•approved to a recommendation of the Administration and Finance Executive Committee to accept the Child Care Service Auditor’s Report on Compliance with Agreement for the year ended Dec. 31, 2010 and further that the invoice for audited services be paid;
•approved a report that will authorize that will authorize staff to initiate discussions with Fort Frances Power Corp. in regards to the financing of the solar power generating system and assuming the responsibility of the maintenance of the solar power panels;
•approved purchase card expense for Mayor Avis;
•approved travel expense claims for Couns. Andrew Hallikas and Paul Ryan for attending the “Think North II” summit in Thunder Bay (June 13-14);
•approved a report to approve by resolution that full day per diem claim be eligible for council members attending the Strategic Plan Meeting held at Sunny Cove Camp on June 16, 2011, in accordance with By-Law 02/10 provisions.
•approved a report to authorize the mayor and clerk to sign an application for the museum and cultural centre operating grant;
•awarded the tender for road reconstruction and watermain improvements for Third Street East, Osborne Street, Sixth Street East, and Eighth Street West and proposed easement (Church to Nelson) to Wagner Construction Canada ULC at an estimated cost of $1,430,521.24 which includes HST and a contingency allowance of $125,000;
•held a public meeting re: applications for tax adjustment at 655 Second St. East. No member of the public provided comment;
•passed a bylaw to authorize a license agreement for purposes of utilization of the town’s geospatial data with Neegan Burnside Limited;
•received a request from Rainy River Coun. G. Armstrong re: a district strategic planning request;
•received a request from Coun. G. Armstrong from the Town of Rainy River to help create a district strategic plan; and
•reminded the public that the town’s e-waste day will take place July 18-19 at the Sports Memorial Complex, coinciding with the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.
