Township Watch
The role of Township Watch committee is to:
- Attend council meetings regularly as well as the district council
- Report on ongoing issues
- Monitor changes in the township by-laws and regulations.
What happened in Township Council, March 2011
SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING – Wednesday March 2nd. – 7:00 pm:
- Ullswater Community Hall Board, represented by Darlene Poirier and Gunta Towsley, delegated Council requesting funds to rebuild the Hall and emphasized its importance to the community.
- Jeff Mole, an unsuccessful candidate for Council in the last election, delegated Council requesting that $100,000 be placed in reserves for strategic planning to establish a Sustainability Strategy and possible investment into a renewable energy project development partnership.
- Passionate supporters of the Township owned Duke House (used now as Tourist information centre), represented by Michael Anne Macdonald, Ian Wallace and Gunta Towsley, requested that the Duke House not be sold, but rather designated as Heritage, and be the subject of an in depth review over the next twelve (12) months to determine its future.
- The Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association, represented by its President, Susan Daglish, put forward its suggestions regarding the Budget, and received grateful thanks from Councillors Brent and Furniss.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – Thursday March 3rd 9:00 am:
- The Township Financial Officer, Julie Stevens, explained the proposed Budget extensively and clearly. Many details were discussed by Council, including the cost of increasing the number of Committee Chairs (we now have 10 compared to 2 or 3 in the past), mileage charge limits made for Township/District business, the cost of District computers for the Councillors, and some cost breakdowns for the Fire Department.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – Friday March 11th 9:00 am:
- Budget discussion continued from March 3rd meeting
- Ullswater Community Centre’s request for $145,000 from the Capital Budget to replace the roof was reduced to $132,000
- A proposal to increase wages for part-time caretakers of the Community Centres was deferred
- Communities in Bloom funding was questioned in considerable depth – no decision
COUNCIL – Monday March 14 – 10:00 am:
- The 2011 Township Budget was passed, showing:
- An increase in this years effective Tax rate of 2.59%
- An average increase of $2.52 per $100,000 of assessment
- A decrease in reserves of $70,000 to $500,000
- Delegations heard –five (5), all in opposition to the Power Plant at Bala Falls
- on behalf of the Cranberry Festival Board, Wally Henderson requested consideration be given to move the parking area from the Shield Lot to the more expansive Sports Park
DISTRICT COUNCIL – Monday March 14 – 7:00 pm:
- The District budgeted $200,000 towards the funding needs to build a Hospice in Huntsville
We invite and encourage you to tell us how you feel about all this.
You can contact us at:
Muskoka Ratepayers’ Association
Box 336, Port Carling,
Ontario, P0B 1J0
Email: muskokaratepayers@vianet.ca
Or call: 705-765-0022
Last Updated: November 19, 2011