Council meeting short with four councillors absent; large boathouse receives approval

This month’s regular council meeting was short and sweet, lasting a record 45 minutes. Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano chaired the meeting with Mayor Scott Aitchison away on holiday. Councillors Dan Armour and Brian Thompson were away at a conference in Toronto and were expected to meet with the Minister of Health on the issue of the future of hospitals in Muskoka, while Councillor Det Schumacher was away due to health reasons. “We’re small but mighty tonight,” said Terziano.

Committee of Adjustments trumps staff recommendation on Fairy Lake boathouse

Despite concerns from planning staff regarding the size and impact of a boathouse on 63 Europe Lane (Fairy Lake), it was passed by the Committee of Adjustments following some minor concessions by the proponent.

The Committee agreed to allow the proponent to increase the projection of a boathouse from 15m to 28m from the shoreline; increase the size of the boathouse from 100 square metres to 122.5 square metres (down from the 126 square meters originally proposed); reduce the easterly side yard setback for the flat roof boathouse from 12m to 7.5m; and permit the boathouse to project from 15m to 28m in Type 1 Fish Habitat (down from the original 30m proposed). It was reported that Committee asked staff if the proposal met the official plan policies and staff indicated it was more in keeping, but the Town’s Manager of Planning Services, Kristin Maxwell, noted that the boathouse was still very large and that the reduction in impact would not be significant. The representative for the proponent, John Gallagher, noted that area of the lake is shallow and that similar concessions had been made for another property in the area.

Cortney Lee-Comeau (left) and Debbie Duce (right) stand beside Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano (centre), holding up the award the library received for its sustainability initiatives.

Library receives Angus Mowat Award

Deborah Duce and Cortney Lee-Comeau of the Huntsville Public Library were before Council to present the Angus Mowat Award of Excellence, which was presented to the library for its sustainability efforts by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. The following efforts were recognized:

• Solar panels on the library’s roof.
• Participation in Earth Week celebrations.
• The creation of a seed-lending library.
• The library’s sustainability book collection.
• The implementation of a green series for all ages, which runs once a month, as well as the library’s green team
• Attempts to decrease the use of paper.

Snowmobile access

Councillor Bob Stone, who chairs Huntsville’s Economic Development Committee, said the committee is looking at ways to improve access for snowmobiles to get into town.

River Mill Park public meeting on parking

Councillor Bob Stone informed Council that a public meeting will take place Tuesday March 8 between 6 and 8 p.m. at Partners Hall regarding parking in that area.

Expanding Wi-Fi in the downtown core

Councillor Stone also said Huntsville’s Economic Development Committee is looking at ways to expand and improve Wi-Fi services and speeds to all of Huntsville’s downtown as well as at municipal locations that currently provide the service.

Accessibility
Accessibility Committee chair Debbie Kirwin brought Council up to speed on some of committee’s initiatives and noted that according to the Province, 15 per cent of Ontarians have a disability, Huntsville’s number is closer to 20 per cent of the population. “That means one out of every five customers will have some type of disability, visible or not. And as I’ve said before, 70 per cent of disabilities are invisible,” Kirwin told Council.

The Accessibility Committee is considering a review of accessible parking downtown. Kirwin said some areas don’t have any while others are no longer appropriate because of the changing face of downtown.

Kirwin also said staff are working on getting an accessible cab in Huntsville. She said she had her first experience when she tried to attend a public meeting and her car wouldn’t start. “I couldn’t take a taxi and I couldn’t get a bus so I was grounded. So I felt it first hand,” said Kirwin who uses a wheelchair to get around. “That’s why we want to increase transit.”

Kirwin also said existing ramps are being repaired and replaced much to the delight of some businesses that did not know it was being done.

2016 Spring and Summer Leisure Activity Guide

The guide will now be produced in-house and staff will sell the guide’s advertising to reduce cost. The Town originally had a contract with Cottage Country Communications, which published What’s Up Muskoka, but since it has closed its doors, staff have had to look at other ways of getting the printed guide out. It will use an outside company to print the product, which will be distributed along with its flyers by Metroland Media.

Council approved a maximum of $3,603.27 be taken from the Recreation and Leisure Reserve account to offset the unbudgeted expense of producing the Spring and Summer 2016 Leisure Activity Guide.

Staff will also investigate future options for the production of the guide and report back to General Committee.

For the Spring and Summer 2016 guide, based on the Town producing the guide and selling advertisements in the guide while having it printed and distributed by an outside company, the costs are as follows:

• Total expense: $14,301
• $13,180 Printing Costs
• $1,121 Distribution Costs
• $6,926.37 confirmed ad revenue as of the morning of February 22, 2016.
• $3,771.36 additional ad sales staff working to confirm

• $3,603.27 balance owing

Click here to see the current Leisure Guide

Tamsen Tilson is the Town’s acting Marketing Coordinator, filling in on a one-year maternity leave.