Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Greater Napanee’s town hall is going back to its natural red roots.
During the April 30 session, council approved a $118,650 contract to The Brick Painters Ltd., which will see the Smiths Falls based company begin work on restoring town hall’s exterior. That includes adding a coat of red paint to its brick facade, marking a return to its original shade.
“They’re very unique in their approach, they’re not just slapping some paint on the walls,” Chris Brown, Greater Napanee’s facilities manager, community and corporate services told council of The Brick Painters Ltd. “They have a finish that is very unique. They came, they did a sample, they’ve been to the site several times looking around making sure that they’re quoting the job appropriately. Staff are very comfortable with their work.”
Brown says the company specializes in restoring historic buildings, having worked on centuries old structures around the world.
“We are excited about returning to the original colour of town hall which is the red brick with a little bit of a darker tinge to it as well,” said Brown.
Work is expected to get underway this month.
“We are going to bring the exterior of this building back to the way she was back in 1856,” said mayor Terry Richardson. “It’s going to be very important to the development of our Market Square and I think this is a really good project to get involved in.”
-Responding to a deputation, council voted to support in principle a request from the Lennox and Addington Stewardship Council to establish a little forest in the green space near Marilyn Avenue.
Town staff was directed to bring a report back to council for their May 14 meeting.
The Stewardship is seeking a quick response, as they have secured $1,750 in funding from the county’s Naturally L&A Activation Fund, which would help fund the project, though that funding is contingent on getting the town’s approval and is time sensitive. They hope to begin preparing the green space, located next to J.J. O’Neill, this spring.
“It is our feeling that a creation of a little forest on this space would only enhance it as a green space,” Amanda Gary told council during her deputation. “Just to give you an idea, the little forest would comprise an area roughly the size of a tennis court. That means only a reasonably small portion of that land would be the little forest.”
Councillor Dave Pinnell Jr. abstained from voting on the matter, noting this particular green space was a hotly contested issue earlier this year.
“I think we need to take more time on this and see what residents want and maybe reach out to the school…I need to just slow down on this,” said Pinnell Jr.
Gray noted the second phase of the project, which they say will require no funding from the town, would be to add an outdoor classroom to the space.
Richardson was among those on council to support the principle of the idea in the hopes it would allow them to retain the funding should the idea be fully approved at the next meeting.
-Pinnell Jr. put forward a successful motion to have council add their support to both the Kingston and Area Real Estate Association and Loyalist Township, urging the province not to shutdown a water testing facility in Kingston.
“There is a water testing lab on Barrie Street in Kingston, it’s one of 11 in Ontario and this lab is being considered to be closed,” said Pinnell Jr. “This would have a huge impact not only on the real estate industry but also on anybody that has a rural well as it provides free testing for E.coli and bacteria of wells so that we can have clean drinking water in the rural areas. It’s very important that we lobby to have that remain open, just because its in Kingston it doesn’t just serve Kingston, it services Hastings, Lennox and Addington and Frontenac County.”
The lab is currently under consideration for closure as part of the province’s merger of Public Health Units. Currently any well water dropped off to 99 Advance Ave. in Greater Napanee is taken to that Kingston location for testing. Pinnell Jr. says he’s unsure where the testing would take place if the Kingston location were to be closed.
Council voted to send a letter to both the local MP and MPP to encourage the province to consider keeping it open.
-Seeking to upgrade its closed circuit camera system, council approved up to $200,000 in funding for a contract with Mikala Telecom and Network Solutions.
Partnering with the L&A OPP, the town is looking to add 18 additional fixed outdoor cameras in high criminal activity areas. Proposed locations for cameras to be added include Selby ball park, Napanee District Secondary School, the Fairgrounds and several main intersections.
-Another restaurant patio is coming to town as council approved the application for Fool’s Kitchen, located at 19A Market Square.
-Council voted to proclaim May 10 as Lupus Awareness Day, May 5-11 as Emergency Preparedness Week, May 19-25 as VON Week and May 28 as Menstrual Health Day within Greater Napanee.