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Bancroft council facilitates possible LCBO move


By Tony Pearson


In addition to reviewing the community safety and well-being plan, last week Bancroft town council dealt with a number of other matters.


On a development issue, council approved a bylaw to allow business uses permitted in the downtown core and in the western business district (along Hwy 28 W) to extend to the commercial area in the north end of town.


The purpose of the amendment is to permit the LCBO to move there when it leaves the Legion building, since that is where developers wish it to go.


Despite township urgings, they are not interested in relocating on the Hastings Street core. However, if the LCBO heads north, the CAO would like to negotiate for a speciality liquor shop downtown to assist with diversity of shopping development in the core.


Picking up a familiar theme, Deputy Mayor Paul (“no relation”) Jenkins continued to press for clarity from Bell on Internet speeds in Bancroft.


The mayor will write Bell and EORN (Eastern Ontario Regional Network), with copies to the MP and MPP.


Council will also contact MPP Todd Smith about cuts to caregiver funding for Alzheimer's and other disabled persons.
Sarah Krieger of the Alzheimer's Society stated that they had recently had to cut a number of the 180 families they support from 80 to 40 relief worker hours; she feared the situation would get worse before it got any better.


Deputy Mayor Jenkins also raised some concerns about the proposed budget of the Business Improvement Association, particularly whether they would be hiring a full-time co-ordinator.


These questions will be taken up by the committee of the whole.


Councillor Mary Kavanagh, their BIA liaison, stressed that the BIA is almost entirely a volunteer effort – including the staging of the Wheels, Water and Wings event, which Kavanagh noted they were not obliged to do.


In response to a letter from the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs, council passed a motion of support and welcome for Syrian refugees to Canada.


The support was not unanimous: Mayor Bernice Jenkins and Councillors Paul Jenkins, Bill Kilpatrick, Mary Kavanagh and Charles Mullett were in favour, while Councillors Barry and Tracy McGibbon opposed it.


Learning of a small financial windfall, council made a deal with Holly Transportation Services to recover some provincial tax money spent on diesel fuel for certain public works and fire vehicles, on a commission basis.


Looking ahead, the CAO expects a press release soon on progress with the Earth Sciences Centre. She also hopes to see a master trails plan from the county.


Finally, the town presented length-of-service awards to 20-year public works employees Mark Sills and Rob Mahaffey, and 15 year equipment operator Tom Rowlands, as well as to CAO Hazel Lambe, who has now completed five years' service with the town. In presenting the awards, Mayor Jenkins praised the loyalty, effort, dedication, and team work of town staff.
Post date: 2015-12-16 11:42:18
Post date GMT: 2015-12-16 16:42:18
Post modified date: 2015-12-16 11:42:18
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