LONG SAULT – Several Key Information Reports were provided to South Stormont council members during the Feb. 17 meeting; these included a notice of 2021 budget meeting by the director of corporate services/clerk Loriann Harbers, an update by Kevin Amelotte, director of parks and recreation and notice of the dissolution of the Waterfront Development Committee.

In her report, Harbers announced the 2021 budget deliberation dates have been set for Sat., March 6 at 9 a.m. and at 5 p.m. on Tues., March 16. She continued the meetings will be livestreamed, recorded and available on the municipal website. The public will be invited to provide input and ideas for the 2021 budget which will be compiled and brought to council by the administration for consideration.

Amelotte provided a facility update to council during the meeting, which described the work done by staff following the announcement that the EOHU will be moving into the Orange Zone of COVID-19 precautions. He reported that Recreation and Parks’ staff have been working to facilitate arena and hall rentals, ice rentals and scheduling, noting that new screening requirements are being implemented.  Amelotte noted the municipality will be booking rental times at the Lancer Centre in Ingleside and discussion with other municipalities regarding ice rentals had been held. Amelotte noted things are moving forward so long as the EOHU remains in the Orange Zone.   

As the meeting opened, Harbers provided a report on the Waterfront Development Committee, noting that the terms of reference for the committee had been completed and that a report was provided to council and adopted during the Jan. 27 council meeting. Deputy Mayor Smith expressed his concern that the committee may be dissolved as well, he noted that there was still work which could be done by the committee and suggested the mandate of the WDC should be extended. Councillor Jennifer MacIsaac agreed with Smith that the committee should continue, but as their work is complete that perhaps staff could provide a report to council detailing a new mandate which could focus on the implementation phase. Councillor Andrew Guidon echoed the comments of his colleagues, with Mayor Bryan McGillis thanking the committee for their work and agreeing that perhaps a new committee could be established with a new mandate. CAO Debi Lucas Switzer mentioned staff are still working toward an agreement with the St. Lawrence Parks Commission and suggests that a new committee could investigate various facets of the Waterfront plan and how this would be integrated with other municipal plans as well as with community members. She mentioned how a report could be provided to council by the second meeting in March.