HLC Board Meeting-2007_03_03
Huntsville Lakes Council
Board Meeting
March 3, 2007
Robinson's Independent Grocers Community Room
Present: Co-Chair, Mary McCulley, Secretary, Bill Somers, Directors, Bruce Howlett, Dan Kerr, Burr Atkinson and Mike Greenfield.
Guest: Dwayne Verhey, (LWRA), Ted Mercer, (OLA) and Mary Jane Fletcher, Councillor.
Regrets: Co-Chair, Elaine Jackson, Directors, Yuri Zadoroznyj, Jeanne O'Neill, Dan McKeon, John Kenny, Barb Stronach and Rob Zingel.
1. Call to Order: - at 9:35 AM Guests were introduced and welcomed.
2. Approval of Agenda: - Approved as presented.
Website Presentation: - Dwayne Verhey, Director with Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association made a presentation to the Board recommending that the Board obtain a hosting account for $190.80 Us for 2 years and provide web space to client associations for a an additional $9.95 US/year for domain registration for each association. The Co-Chair thanked Dwayne V. for his excellent presentation and invited him to remain for the duration of the meeting.
3. Co-chair's Report March 3, 2007
I attended a MWC Communications Committee meeting on February 8th. A draft stormwater brochure was reviewed and funding is being sought. We also talked to a realtor with the Muskoka-Haliburton Association of Realtors on how realtors could be helpful in getting out the message of the reasons for and the how-tos of protecting water quality. MWC is hoping to develop and have approval for credits courses (for realtors) on such areas as LSHP/DPS, septic systems and stormwater. I had to be in Toronto so missed the February 16th Council meeting. I'll report from the minutes at our next meeting.
The MWC is in communication with MNR respecting the Aggregate Resources Act which now covers Muskoka. Its concern is that indiscriminate quarrying could have a significant negative impact on social, economic and environmental values. Since granite bedrock underlies all of Muskoka and it is this that is used for crusher-run gravel, funding is needed to map unconsolidated aggregates so planners can identify appropriate and inappropriate sites.
As I hope you have all read, the OMB sided with Pen Lake and the Township of Lake of Bays to not allow the House quarry to operate on the site overlooking Pen Lake. This shows that not just O.P.s but lake plans are important as the values set forth in Pen Lake's were used by the Board in making its recommendations.
I attended the Muskoka Heritage Foundation's visioning workshop at the Gravenhurst meeting as I wasn't in Town for the one in Huntsville. Large turnout - we even had Norm Miller there. The results of the three workshops will be compiled but our group, at least from my point of view, just saw them continuing what they are now doing, just based on a larger membership so that programs can become even more effective.
Otter Lake has decided to join our group. If your acting Treasurer (me) can work out an invoice, we'll request dues from them. They are intending to work hard on getting a constitution together and will then start the lake plan process.
As per your instruction, I e-mailed Claude seeking representation on the sub-committee dealing with the review of the Comprehensive Zoning By-law. He replied: "This committee will be independent of any specific group. When issues related to your interests are at hand, we will be asking you for formal presentations on same. You are correct re all meetings being open and I look forward to your attendance."
An ad-hoc EAC has sprung up thanks to the efforts of Don Baker. As you might be aware, our mayor has said that he will revisit the issue of a Town EAC in six months. The ad-hoc group decided that it will react to this by monitoring various committees of Council (Planning & Design, By-law Review Sub-committee, Heritage, Public Works, Finance & Admin. and Economic Development) and assessing their ability to provide oversight and be proactive with respect to environmental issues. It will also be proactive by developing approaches to various environmental concerns around Town.
A new organization, the Muskoka Sustainability Coalition has sprung up. I e-mailed its organizer, Mary Heubli, and suggested that we either meet or that she attend a meeting of our group. She was unable to attend to-day but we hope to meet at some point soon. The purpose, as its early members have set out, is "to create a healthy environment for residents and visitors of Muskoka, that will provide a legacy of sustainable practices and vital surroundings for current and future generations to thrive in". Its first newsletter is out and has articles on such areas as winter-green driving and eco-friendly cleaning. It also provides a snapshot of local businesses which are "green", looks at problems and issues around Muskoka (e.g. loss of the EAC, OMB hearing about a resort application for small Medora Lake etc.) and provides a calendar of selected events focusing on sustainability. The newsletter is well done.
Lastly, we're working on three initiatives: navigation buoys, lake level problems and lake plan funding. I sent out a reminder to our members this month to get back to us on each of these.
- Navigation buoys: 5 lakes use markers and none are the ‘approved' variety. Peter Van Buskirk from Fairy Lake is doing research for us on costs, availability etc. I will pass on his info to the 5 lakes with a draft presentation to Claude as per his comment at our January meeting that approved markers would be safer. A very big part of this will, however, be insurance as it is fairly common now that private residents just ‘slip out' a plastic bottle or whatever, thereby hoping to avoid the issue of insurance.
Lake levels: Only 7 lakes responded and only 3 have problems with lake levels. However, since what happens on one lake affects another, I'll ask all the lakes in the Muskoka chain, not just Mary and Fox Lakes and Lake Vernon (the ones with significant problems), to work together on this.
Lake plans grant from Muskoka Futures: Five lakes (Fox, Buck, Bella-Rebecca, Otter and Walker) want to go together on this grant. I am trying to help the latter 4 develop budgets for this so that Elaine can incorporate their needs into a proposal when she gets back.
4. Approval of Minutes: - Motion by Bill S. and seconded by Mike G. that the minutes of February 3, 2007 be approved with the adjustment of Burr A's report. Carried.
5. Treasurer's Report: - The present bank balance stands at $1,768.64. Motion by Mary McC. And seconded by Bill S. that the Treasurer's report be accepted as presented. Carried.
6. Member Association Updates: -Lake Waseosa - Bruce H. reports that the LWRA Board of Directors forwarded a letter to the Town Council indicating their displeasure with the Council for "deciding to withdraw from the OMB hearing" "in closed session and neglected to inform their partner", the LWRA. Bruce H. requests a copy of this letter be attached to these minutes. Letter attached. (See Pg. 4)
The LWRA is presently meeting to identify areas of their lake plan that they may wish to have amended to the Town's Official Plan.
Walker and Pells Lake - Burr A. advises his association is working on their lake plan.
Otter Lake - Ted M. reports Otter Lake Association has just formed and has voted to become a member of the HLC.
Mary Lake - Mike G. reports that the Mary Lake dam is still an issue with very little movement by the parties involved. MLA is hoping this bridge can become part of a heritage trail. The level of Mary Lake is not an issue at this time but may be after ice-out. They are still working on their lake plan. The Huttley property on Stephenson Rd. 8 regarding a log home building operation went before Council last Monday and the zoning change was passed.
Chub Lake - Mary McC. Reports that the Chub Lake Association president was approached regarding the placing of a high speed internet tower in their area. As this is a line of site situation (tower to tower) Mary is concerned over the removal of trees.
7. Committee Reports: -
a) Policy - Mary McC. Reports that a wetland adjacent to the shoreline of a property on Crescent Bay Road, Fairy Lake, was filled in with imported soil and landscaped, ready for development. Town Planner, Chris Madej, visited the site and is urging that a building permit not be issued until the natural shoreline vegetation is restored to the Town's satisfaction.
b) WRAFT/CAPTR - No report available.
c) Communications -
i) Website - Dwayne Verhey agreed to become the HLC's webmaster. Motion by Burr A. and seconded by Bruce H. that the Board of Directors approach their association to see if any are interested in purchasing a portion of HLC's website as identified as Proposal #3 in his website proposal and recommended by Dwayne V. Carried.
ii) Promotional Pamphlet - Bill S. reports that the pamphlet is ready for distribution.
iii) Forester March Article - Mary McC. Reports the article on recycling should appear in the March 7th issue.
iv) Town Liaison - A list of member lake association contacts has been forwarded to Cathy Nunn at the Town Office.
v) Newsletter - Mary McC. requests that Directors consider topics for consideration for the upcoming Spring newsletter. Articles should be submitted to Mary by the first part of April so that Mary can edit them prior to sending them to Jeanne O'Neill for publication. Jeanne is not back until April 23rd and the newsletter should be out around May 1. Reports requested by Mary:
- WRAFT/CAPTR - John Kenny
- Policy - Mary
- Special Projects - Mary
- Stewardship - Bruce
- Website - Bill/Dwayne - with a noticeable box or something advertising space on our website with costs etc.
- Membership - Bill
- Co-chairs' report - Mary
- Fund Raising - Bill re BBQ
- MWC - Mary
- anything else anyone feels they can add
d) FOCA - No report available. FOCA's latest newsletter containing numerous interesting articles was received this month. Their 2007 Spring Seminar is scheduled for Saturday, March 24, 2007 at the York Reception Centre, 1100 Millwood Road, Toronto, ON. If you are in a position to attend, contact FOCA direct or HLC's Secretary, Bill Somers.
e) Stewardship - Nothing to report at this time.
f) Membership - Bill S. reports that Otter Lake Association has joined the HLC. Furthermore, he has been in contact with Peter Bloom of Clearwater Lake who has indicated a keen interest in the HLC. Hopefully an association will develop on Clearwater Lake. Sean Miller and Steve Abouldahab have indicated a desire to assist with our committees. Both, along with P. Bloom, have been added to HLC's contact list and e-mail address list.
g) Fund Raising - Bill S. reports that HLC's fund raising BBQ will occur at Robinson's Independent Grocers on Friday June 22, Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24, 2007. The Help schedule will be available by the June meeting.
8. Old Business: -
a) Contact List - Bill S. reports that except for a few minor details, the HLC Contact List is ready for publication. Burr A. requests his LS be included and Mike G. requests that two of his executive also be included. Done. Motion by Burr A. and seconded by Mike G. that the President of each member association and each Director of the HLC receive a copy of the Contact List. Carried.
b) Issues - Mary McC. reports that Mayor Doughty is aware of the Deer Lake Trailer Park situation and is interested in doing something about it. There will be a public meeting regarding the River Mill Park in the Algonquin Theatre on Monday, March 12, 2007, 7:00 PM.
9. New Business: -
a) HLC April meeting - to be held at the Muskoka Baptist Conference Centre in Port Sydney, on Sat., March. 31, 2007. Breakfast will be served at 8:30 AM with the meeting starting at 9:30 AM. Directions to the facility will be included with the agenda.
b) New Issue - Private Roads/Road Maintenance - deferred to another meeting.
10. Adjournment: - Motion by Bill S. to adjourn at 11:35 AM
Prepared by: Bill Somers, Secretary March 11, 2007.
February 5, 2007
Mayor C. Doughty and Councillors
Town of Huntsville
37 Main Street, East,
Huntsville, ON P1H 1A1
Re: Your File OPA/37,Z/65/2002/HTE & B/103/104/2002/HTE-Pieper(Lake Waseosa)
OMB File PL051311
Your Worship and Members of Council
In 2002, a waterfront property owner began proceedings before the Town of Huntsville to divide her property into
four waterfront lots. This same property was unsuccessfully litigated before the Ontario Municipal Board in 1978.
The Town of Huntsville took this proposal very seriously. After many open and reasoned public debates, plus a report from its planning department recommending approval of this application, Town Council, in a 7 to 2 vote, denied the application on December 12, 2005. In 2006, the applicant appealed to the OMB and a full hearing was scheduled for November 2006.
Representatives of Town staff, Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association, Huntsville Lakes Council and interested parties met to plan a defense. The Town agreed to address planning issues while the LWRA would address issues of science as it relates to phosphorus.
Three working days before the OMB hearing was scheduled to begin, LWRA's lawyer accidentally discovered that the Town of Huntsville had decided to withdraw from the OMB hearing and to approve the application. On Monday, November 27, 2006, representatives for the Town of Huntsville appeared before the OMB hearing and officially withdrew from the hearing reporting that the Town of Huntsville was prepared to settle with the applicant. The OMB hearing was conducted without the Town of Huntsville and on January 9, 2007, the OMB issued a decision denying the appeal.
We understand that some matters must be discussed in private. What we fail to understand is why Council reversed a publicly made decision in closed session and neglected to inform their partner, the LWRA, of their decision. This process did not reflect well on Council. This new Council should ensure that decisions on important policy matters will not be made behind closed doors.
Sincerely
Directors,
Lake Waseosa Ratepayers Association.
/bs
