Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Greater Napanee’s council meetings will continue to be held virtually for the foreseeable future.
That was the unanimously supported motion put forward by deputy mayor Max Kaiser at last week’s council meeting, which itself was held virtually and broadcast on the town’s YouTube channel.
Council had discussed location options for face-to-face meetings, exploring sites such as Town Hall, Selby Hall, North Fred Hall or the Strathcona Paper Centre. One of those may end up being the next site of an in-person open council meeting, but not before town staff puts together a full report on the cost associated with equipping each venue with the means to stream a meeting online. Meanwhile town staff can now also set up their offices in a manner so that employees can work in the same building while adhering to physical distancing protocols, as well as welcome members of the public into the buildings once the Ontario government deems it safe to do so. That may require using Town Hall’s council chambers for additional office space.
“This is the zero cost alternative anyways,” said Kaiser of continuing to meet via Zoom. “Let staff accommodate staff first, and public first, before us and we can come last. I was always raised to be last to go through the buffet when I’m the host. I think that’s what we should do here.”
“I think everybody just needs a bit more time to feel settled with this in their minds,” added councillor Ellen Johnson. “I would like us to be able to have face-to-face meetings by the time we start looking over budget numbers and making hard decisions as to how our community is going to move forward. I don’t think Zoom is the best format for that.”
Council did agree they would meet-to-face, while adhering to physical distancing protocols, for an upcoming closed session meeting regarding town personnel. They would then rise and report online. They’ll continue to broadcast open session meetings on YouTube, with their next meeting scheduled for June 24.
-Continuing his report from the previous meeting, Greater Napanee general manager of financial services/treasurer Paul Dowber gave council another 2020 operations budget update.
In it he went over some of the projected losses stemming from the COVID-19 state of emergency.
“The largest of this is in parks and facilities, with the shutdown and closure of the SPC, there’s been quite a few rentals, the largest being the ice rentals in the amount of $336,000 lost revenue there as well as lost revenue in waste revenue in just about a quarter of a million dollars from bag tag sales,” said Dowbar. “The total amount….it’s just over $800,000 is what we’re looking at at this time and what we’re anticipating might be our possible landing spot for lost revenue going forward.”
Dowbar says the town staff has been able to offset about half that amount by virtue of the fact they’ve had to use like hydro to operate their parks and recreation facilities or through other cost saving measures, limiting spending to essentials when possible.
“We’re looking at deferring costs in the amount of just under about $400,000,” added Dowbar. “We’re looking at a budget impact at this point of about $425,000.”
He noted the town could look to recover money through funding programs that may become available through the upper tiers of the government.
-Council updated its flag raising and proclamation policy, selecting North Fred Hall as the site to display any club flags they wish to honour for special occasions. Mayor Marg Isbester immediately after put forward a successful motion that they town display the rainbow flag to recognize Pride Month for a 10 day period.
-Council voted to delay some hirings for current openings within the town while forging ahead with others.
The interview process for a building inspector will continue this month while the hiring of a full-time public works labourer is expected to take place this month as well. Posting for a public works manager will be delayed until August while the posting for a development services part-time administrative assistant will be reconsidered during the 2021 budget.
-Council received a proposal to hold the 2020 Hometown Market in the parking lot of the SPC, pending the approval of the Public Health Unit. The proposal came with some changes to procedure, such as requiring shoppers to wear a face cover and for all walking traffic through the market to be one-way.
-Subject to a lease agreement, council voted to allow The Catering Company to place a food truck in the upper parking lot of Spring Side Park.