By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
The Municipality of Port Hope has reported on its regular council and committee-of-the-whole meetings of May 18, held electronically via videoconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rise and Report – Proposed LPAT Settlement
Mayor Bob Sanderson provided a report out of the closed session announcing that council has approved proposed Minutes of Settlement for Local Planning Appeal Tribunal Appeal Case #PL200619, submitted by the Applicant (AON Inc., 2107401 Ontario Inc., Penryn Park Estates Inc., and Penryn Mason Homes Inc.). Details of the proposed settlement are available on the municipal website.
Property Tax Levy By-law
Council authorized the 2021 Tax Levy Bylaw. Approval of the annual levy rate bylaw is required in order to raise the funds required from tax levy as part of the 2021 Municipal Budget adopted in December. The levy Bylaw for 2021 reflects the amended Special Services Bylaw, will comply with the changes to tax ratios, and will utilize LLRW funds to reduce the municipal tax levy for the rural and urban areas in keeping with previous direction received by council.
PHAI application to CNSC for clean-up criteria changes
Council authorized submission of correspondence to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission from the mayor, encouraging priority to the review and decision process for revised clean-up criteria. Consideration includes the impact of the loss of tree canopy and the extended period of community disruption if the criteria are not changed. In the interest of time, the letter had been sent to the CNSC on May 12.
Fire Station 2 Upgrades
Council authorized the closure of the Fire Station 2 upgrades capital project, originally planned for 2021 and allocated in the budget. After consultation with planning staff and a survey of the property, it was determined that the building is on a flood plain and cannot be expanded. Council directed staff to investigate growth with the completion of a Fire Master Plan and a community risk assessment at an estimated cost of $55,000, to be funded by Development Charges in accordance with the DC study and the remainder being an unfunded operational expense.
Delegations – Police Reports
Leading off the committee-of-the-whole portion of the meeting were two annual reports.
Port Hope Police Chief Bryant Wood said that calls for service were up 6% over 2020 – 1,028 charges laid in 2020, compared with 1,675 in 2019. More dedicated patrols of the Ganaraska River were necessary – 134.25 hours in 2020, compared with 102.5 in 2019. There were 184 COVID-19-related calls and a 48% increase in mental-health calls compared to the year before. A notable drug seizure was spotlighted, which ended in two persons charged with trafficking and possession of illegal drugs, including cocaine and purple and blue fentanyl with an estimated street value of $9,000. Also seized were a loaded hand gun, a 2013 BMW and $4,750.
Inspector Jeff Martin of the Northumberland OPP reported on the picture in that rural part of the municipality where they provide services. The 1,332 calls for service in 2020 represented a 9% increase over 2019, and there was an interesting breakdown. The busiest months were August through October, and the least busy ones were January through March. The busiest days of the week were Saturday and Monday, and the least busy ones were Tuesday and Wednesday. And the busiest time of day was 1 to 3 p.m. Violent crime was up over last year (15 incidents in 2020 vs. 12 in 2019), but property crimes were down (74 in 2020 vs. 90 in 2019). Drug crimes were down very slightly (seven in 2020 vs. eight in 2019).
Delegation – Period Promise Northumberland
Maggie Darling and Nicole Beatty from Period Promise Northumberland made a delegation to council regarding Menstrual Health Hygiene Day, with the request that May 28 be declared Menstrual Hygiene day in the Municipality of Port Hope.
Delegation – PHorest 4 R Phuture
PHorest 4 R PHuture Community Association Board Chair Greg Burns made a delegation to council with information regarding the Penryn Woodlot.
First Quarter Financial Report
Staff provided a report to council detailing a preliminary review of actual-to-budget for Q1 2021. In the first three months, the departments are relatively consistent with the year-to-date operating budget, with some variances due to the timing of revenue receipts and related expenses.
Minutes and video recordings
Agendas and staff reports are available on the Council Portal. Meeting minutes will be available pending approval at the next council meeting on June 1, at which point they will become the official record of the meeting.
Recordings of the May 18, 2021 Council and Committee of the Whole meetings are available at //porthope.ca/council.
