Seguin Council's February 4, 2019 meeting was packed with more appointments to Seguin Committees, applications for zoning changes and a request for the Township to assume maintenance of a private road. The latter has been referred back to Staff for exact costing now that 2/3 of the residents have signed a petition.
The 2019 Capital and Operating Budgets were approved in principle unanimously by Council. We continue to await news from the Minister of Finance on the exact amounts associated with the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) grants prior to the finalization of the 2019 budgets.
Council has requested a detailed review and comparison of their entire compensation package Treasury has reached out to 10 municipalities that have similar demographics to Seguin for a fact-based comparison that we hope will be available for open discussion in April 2019. As Mayor, I do not believe that our compensation should be the first order of business and hope that all Councillors will await the comparison before seeking more publicity.
An Ad-Hoc Wellness and Pool Recreational Committee is actively investigating the opportunities and costs associated with a pool recreational complex. Mayor Ann MacDiarmid has been appointed as the Seguin Council representative on that Committee. Councillor Art Coles has been appointed as her alternate. This Committee will be working closely with a Committee of CAO's from all of the West Parry Sound Communities. Reports will be brought back to all Councils.
The Parry Sound Area Municipal Airport has received $495,000 from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to assist with the site preparation of Phase 6 of the airport business development park. Funds has also been requested from FEDNOR.
As many of you are aware, the past few weeks have been challenging from a weather perspective. Extreme cold temperatures followed by several days of freezing rain have cancelled school buses and made travel - by vehicle and on foot - difficult. Please go the extra mile and assist your senior neighbours who cannot get out on the icy sidewalks. The Seguin Public Works department are doing their utmost to stay ahead of mother nature.