by Angela Lavallee

Now that the survey for the small animal by-law is complete, Selywn Township council has to review the data and after doing so, will make amendments to the proposed draft by-law if necessary.

At the regular council meeting on May 14, members of council heard from residents on the draft by-law where some are for the use of back yard chickens while other are not.

In a letter sent to Selwyn council, by Stan Garason who moved to the Lakefield area in 2012 says the constant flow of cats that use his yard as a pooping grounds needs to stop. He would like to see Selwyn council adopt the by-law. He says he is a constantly removing cat feces from his flower beds and other areas on his property.

At the last council meeting, Tania Goncalves, Deputy Clerk for Selwyn Township said that an estimated 350 surveys were completed with staff going through the data and cyphering out the information.

In another letter sent to Selwyn council, Ennismore resident Helen Young says her cats cannot be leashed because of their age and that her and her husband who are in their 70s would not be able to take on the responsibility of training their cats to be on a leash. She also wrote that backyard chickens should be left to the agricultural area and not urban areas.

The proposed small animal by-law that does include cats and backyard chickens, and according to Rob Lamarre, Manager of Building and Planning, any small animal will be included in the new by-law was brought to council in April 2019, at which time the township launched the survey. The township has already adopted a dog by-law since 2002. Deb Aben who attended the May 14 council meeting told council that cats do serve a purpose.

“We moved from Peterborough because of their cat by-law. My cats are mousers and they do their job,” says Aben. Aben says putting cats on a leash outside will invite predators to them and there would be no way for them to defend themselves.

“This by-law doesn’t take rural properties into consideration,” she told council. “I will not leave my cats outside anywhere tied up,” added Aben.

Councilor Ballantyne said she is glad the public is coming forward but told those in attendance, council will wait for the report of the survey and once reviewed by council a decision be made on the by-law. The small animal by-law report will be made available at the May 28 regular council meeting.

Councillor Herron asks if licensing cats is a good idea. Aben told Councillor Herron that licensing cats is a bad idea because the fee will not be used to charge anyone who disregards the By-law when passed.

Mayor Mitchell says the reason he and council are taking their time with this is because to give residents the time and information and to have the opportunity to come forward with their concerns.

Selwyn animal bylaw

by Angela Lavallee

It is time to finish the job on Strickland Street in Lakefield.

At the May 14th regular council meeting Selwyn council discussed what is happening with the construction thus far and where they go from here.

Strickland Street has been under construction since 2014 with the main hold up being getting water to the Morton Community Health Center (MCHC)

Councillor Herron expressed concerns as well and wants council to pass the recommendation and get going with the completion.

“We need a firm date on this. We have to get going, if Douro-Dummer is not ready, we will go ahead, and in the end will cost them more money,” stated Councillor Herron.” “This is getting to the point of ridiculousness.”

The issue for Selwyn Township council is the water access to the MCHC, which is located in Douro-Dummer Township. The work includes ditching, reshaping the road, resurfacing and installation of culverts.

Janice Lavalley, CAO for Selwyn Township told council the recommendation is to work with Douro-Dummer Township to complete the work. “Council passed some time ago to extend water service to the Morton Community Health Center,” says Lavalley.

Deputy Mayor Sherry Senis told her colleagues and staff that at the “all candidates meeting” during the last municipal election, Strickland Street construction was a huge topic for the residents of Lakefield.

“The state it is in now is not good,” says Deputy Mayor Senis.

Lavalley told council the recommendation to have a firm answer from the MCHC on what their intentions are would need to be received by June 30, 2019.

Councillor Anita Locke said she travels Strickland Street often and it’s hard on her vehicle and would support the recommendation to send a letter off to Douro-Dummer indicating the timeline given by Lavalley.

Mayor Andy Mitchell asked if the letter would be coming from council or staff. Lavalley indicated staff could do the letter and council would then sign off on it.

Lavalley said the project was initally put in the last budget but could be budgeted for 2020 at a cost of $180,000.

by Terry McQuitty

It looked like the decision to take over the responsibility for sewage inspection was a done deal in Douro-Dummer last month, but it would appear the resolution tabled by council was not worded in a manner that would allow them to opt out of a deal with the County of Peterborough.

The resolution was tabled by councillor Heather  Watson at the April 16 council meeting and read as follows:

That the report to Council, dated March 25, 2019 regarding building department financials be received, that Council elect to have the municipality be responsible for the enforcement of sewage systems within the municipality and further that an additional permanent full-time Building Official be hired.

The County informed Brian Fawcett, CBO that the wording was not sufficient to sever ties with Public Health. A new resolution is required that clearly states Douro-Dummer wants out of the 1998 County By-law which authorizes who is responsible for sewage disposal. The County presently has authority over septic inspections through Peterborough Public Health as agreed on by various member municipalities. Withdrawing from this agreement requires a resolution to be brought to County Council to have Douro-Dummer be removed from that County By-law.

Deputy Mayor Karl Moher suggested the newly worded resolution be sent to county the next day (May 8, 2019) so it could make the county council agenda.

Moher also stated that Peterborough Public Health said transition could take up to a year. He said we need to request their records and asked Fawcett to keep them informed if PPH are dragging their feet. Moher said he was sure they could get someone at Queens Park to move things forward.

Fawcett assured council that under the new contract they have six months to complete the transition. He told council that the planning is designed to allow Douro-Dummer to take over responsibility for sewage inspection as soon as the contract expires in May 17 of this year. The ideas is to work cooperatively with Peterborough Public Health and close as many files as possible prior to the transition. Fawcett said ideally the files would be dealt with within a month, but they would work with PPH as long as required.

Fawcett told council that above and beyond the creation of a new resolution, he wanted to update council on the progress being made to assume responsibility of sewage inspections.

The search for a new Building Official is under way. A job description has been formulated and the pay scale is being determined within the township salary grid.

Preparations have begun for the township building permit software to accommodate new septic permits. Procedures are also being put in place to make information about the new permitting system available to ratepayers.