Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Residents of Greater Napanee had their chance to offer input on next year’s budget during a virtual public engagement session held late last month.
Greater Napanee General Manager of Financial Services/Treasurer Paul Dowber presented a report based on that session to council during their regular meeting on Sept. 28. The session was an opportunity for the public to pose questions or raise concerns to council before they get started on their first of three budget-planning meetings, the first of which scheduled for Oct. 20.
One of the questions raised by the public was whether the town would be hosting a warming centre this year. First launched in 2019, the warming centre operated out of the Napanee Area Community Health Centre for two winters, offering people a place to get in from the cold during night time hours. The warming centre didn’t operate last winter, though the county did rely on Prince Edward Lennox and Addington County’s emergency shelter program, which provides access to a private motel room for those in need while working towards more permanent housing.
“The warming centre is an important and contentious issue,” said Mayor Marg Isbester. “Every time that it’s spoken about within these chambers usually it’s shoved back up to the county’s chambers. The county has already announced through Prince Edward Lennox Addington Social Services that it is going to be doing the same program that they did last year. I just think that It deserves some conversation, we have to look at it in some way, whether it’s contributing or not. Whether council agrees with me or not I do think it’s something that has to be on our radar.”
Dowbar noted the warming centre wasn’t part of original budget discussed but staff would work to include it for the Oct. 20 meeting.
Among other questions submitted during the session where about the possibility of the town getting a dog park, whether or not the TD loan on the SPC is locked in or is prepayment an option, suggestions of a centralized town hall and what to do with the train station.
This marked the first time the town had hosted such an event. Dowbar called the meeting constructive and productive.
-An air quality assessment, dust management plan and odour management plan regarding Tomlinson’s proposed permanent asphalt plant is still yet to be submitted to the town. Those studies are slated to be reviewed on behalf of the town and provided to KFLA Public Health to assist in the evidence brief that is being prepared.
-Greater Napanee’s Household Hazardous Waste Event was deemed a success with 567 vehicles, representing 704 households taking part. An estimated 40,623 litres and 2,120 kg of hazardous waste were received. An additional 79 car batteries, 800 propane tanks and 800 kg of plastic was recycled.