School board officials unable to attend closed-door meeting on Friday, according to local trustee
By Blake McKim, Journal Staff Writer
SOUTH GRENVILLE - Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) Grenville Trustee Joan Hodge hopes board administration has been paying attention during the Boundary 2020 community presentations that were held the past two Wednesdays.
The trustee added, during the recent presentations at North Grenville District High School (NGDHS), a few "reasonable suggestions" have been received from parents and other stakeholders. "I hope administration is listening," said Hodge, who declined to specify the suggestions to which she was referring.
Hodge added, even if some of the suggestions from the public are incorporated into the proposal which will be voted on this Wednesday, May 14, they would not change the overall direction of the proposal.
The most recent incarnation of the board's Boundary 2020 proposal presented to the public at a meeting on March 26, calls for the closure of four South Grenville-area elementary schools (Algonquin, Maitland, Central and North Edwardsburgh) as well as the transfer of all grade 7 and 8 students in the area to South Grenville District High School.
While speaking with the Journal, Hodge also addressed what some stakeholders in the Boundary 2020 process have perceived as lack of willingness on her part to get together with groups (such as parent councils) to speak about the proposal. Hodge explained when she was first asked to meet with groups such as the Algonquin Public School parents' council or Augusta Township council, she said no because the staff recommendations from the UCDSB had not yet come forth. "The proposal was very raw at that point," she commented, adding she met with both the "Save NEPS" group and the Algonquin school council since the staff recommendations have been made.
Hodge also made clear she had not been invited to the "stakeholder meeting" which is being organized by the Upper Canada District School Coalition for Friday morning at the Augusta Township Library. She also reported she, UCDSB Chair Greg Pietersma and Director of Education David Thomas would be occupied with board activities on Friday; as a result, none of them would be available for the meeting. This is because Friday is a so-called "system day" for the board; activities on Friday, said Hodge, will include discussion of educational "best practices."
Parents Coalition Co-chair Shawn Carmichael, who informed the Journal of both the meeting and those who he said confirmed their attendance last week, laughed "we'll send a confirmation out her way, then" and added it is in "the best interest of all stakeholders" to make it to the meeting, which is now scheduled to take place at 9:30 am on Friday.
Other stakeholders who Carmichael said will attend this meeting include Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman and Lanark, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington MPP Randy Hillier. One of the reasons this meeting was changed to this Friday, according to Carmichael, was so Liberal MPPs Jean-Marc Lalonde (from Glengarry-Prescott-Russell) and Jim Brownell (of Stormont-South Glengarry) could attend.
Carmichael added the stakeholders "will only be conspicuous by their absence;" if any invited should choose not to come, that action would "speak volumes" about their concern (or lack thereof) about the Boundary 2020 issue.
"If they truly care about it, (they will) be there," offered Carmichael, who added the stakeholders meeting is not expected to take longer than an hour-and-a-half. Carmichael also said there "may be" a press conference following the closed-door stakeholder meeting.
This stakeholders meeting was called in order to bring together key stakeholders on both sides of Boundary 2020 to hopefully get a one year amnesty on the board implementing Boundary 2020. This "amnesty," noted Carmichael, could allow the board to gain a firm handle on the additional $500 million worth of educational funding coming from the province.
Hodge, along with the other nine voting trustees of the UCDSB, will be making the final decision on the Board's Boundary 2020 proposal at NGDHS next Wednesday (May 14) at 7 pm. That meeting is open to the public
Youth Fair is set for SGDHS today
PRESCOTT - The annual Youth Fair is being held at South Grenville District High School today (Wednesday) from 8 am to 2:30 pm.
The event gives visitors a chance to learn more about a range of services and programs available to young adults. Group and agency representatives will be on hand to discuss those services with local teenagers and young adults. The fair is open to the entire community, and admission is free.
The annual Youth Fair is organized by Connect Youth.
Carnation sales help fight MS
SOUTH GRENVILLE - Buy carnations and support the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.
Volunteers will be selling the flowers (regular and mini-bouquets) at numerous locations in Prescott (RBC Royal Bank, TD Canada Trust and Bank of Montreal as well as O'Reilly's Your Independent Grocer), Spencerville (RBC Royal Bank) and Cardinal (Canada Post and Village Square Mall) this Thursday and Friday. The goal of the Mother's Day campaign is to raise $5,000 in South Grenville.
Proceeds support the society and its programs and services for those afflicted with the chronic disease of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
May is MS Awareness Month. The MS Supercities Walk is set for Brockville on May 25. Call 613-342-6396 for more information.
By Tim Ruhnke, Journal Editor
PRESCOTT - Expect a property tax hike of between one and two per cent in Prescott this year.
The town's finance and corporate services committee has endorsed the idea of limiting a 2008 tax increase to less than two per cent. Six of seven members of council were present Monday night for the latest in a series of budget discussions.
The committee started deliberations on Monday needing just under $50,000 in additional savings to match last year's numbers. Town officials had identified about $75,000 in adjustments last Monday.
"All of these cuts aren't going to hurt anyone's budgets," said Deputy Mayor Jo-Anne Beckstead.
Rather than reviewing those changes and seeking additional ones to further minimize a tax hike, the committee agreed not to review the numbers again. Prescott Treasurer/Deputy CAO Laurie Kirkby said the existing figures would result in a tax increase of about one-and-a-half per cent.
Although the municipality is almost ready to finalize its 2008 operating budget, the capital budget still needs some work. Councillor and finance committee chair Mike Dimopoulos indicated the final budget would likely be presented at the first council meeting in June.
Much of the open portion of the finance committee meeting on Monday night was taken up by a discussion on a relatively small budget item. The committee agreed to double the miscellaneous fund in the town's community grant program from $1,000 to $2,000. The total amount being proposed for the grant program is about $36,000.
The miscellaneous fund was set up to enable council to distribute nominal amounts to groups on a first-come basis. Regular recipients of community grants are asked to submit applications to the town early each year.
Council has already given $350 and is expecting to address a funding request from the Harbour Days committee next week. The prospect of receiving a request for more than the remaining $650 prompted the discussion to consider increasing the amount in miscellaneous.
Beckstead suggested doubling the amount in the fund. However, she reiterated her position that the town needs to take a close look at its grant policy instead of allowing it to "fall off the table" as it has in the past. Beckstead referred to the increase of $1,000 as "a minor thing."
On a related note, council approved a finance committee recommendation to write off a small debt owed to the town by the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival. The festival and most other regular funding recipients have been allocated grants similar to those approved by council last year.
By Tim Ruhnke. Journal Editor
PRESCOTT - The town is asking residents for their patience.
A short-handed public works department has been unable to collect bags of leaves and other yard wastes as quickly as it would like, Councillor Ray Young noted at Monday night council's meeting. One of five members of the staff is on the injured reserve list, the councillor quipped.
The town has made arrangements to hire part-time workers to fill the void. The public is being asked to be patient until the town "gets caught up," Young said.
As for what seems to be a significant amount of debris to be collected, the councillor suggested that might have to do with all the snow that "came so quickly last year" and did not give residents a chance to clear their yards prior to the arrival of winter weather. Windstorms during the winter may have also contributed to the situation, he added.
Water plant scores 100 per cent
Young, who is also chair of Prescott's transportation and environmental committee, also reported to council that the town's water treatment plant received a perfect score in a Ministry of the Environment inspection conducted at the end of January. The non-compliance rating for a list of 14 inspection modules listed in the report was 0/257, which produced a final inspection rating of 100 per cent.
"We're drinking clean, safe water," Young stated.
Ontario Clean Water Agency operates the water plant on behalf of the municipality.
By Blake McKim. Journal Staff Writer
PRESCOTT - Volunteers are a big part of the success of the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival.
Two events, dubbed "Volunteer Fairs" have been planned for both new and returning volunteers to get more information about the upcoming season. The first is today (Wednesday) at 7 pm; the second is slated for Saturday at 2 pm. Both fairs will be held in the Ruth Evanson Community Room at town hall on Dibble Street West.
2007 is the sixth year the festival is being held on Prescott's waterfront.
Festival Chair Sandra Lawn explained both events are being held in order to offer people two options to come out. "It's an opportunity (for volunteers) to take a look at all different kinds of volunteer opportunities available," she said.
At the volunteer fairs, which Lawn explained will take no longer than two hours, an overview of the festival will take place as well as an explanation of the different volunteer opportunities available. Something new for this year, said Lawn, is the introduction of a "volunteer tracking sheet" which will enable the festival to keep track of the total amount of volunteer hours available. This is being done in order for organizers to have a good idea of how many volunteer hours in total are logged for the purpose of applying for grants. Festival Artistic Director Ian Farthing will be at both volunteer sessions, noted Lawn.
The volunteer fairs will also allow people to break down into smaller groups based on the sort of volunteering they will be doing. "There are many, many opportunities available," said Lawn, who stressed even if a prospective volunteer does not have much spare time, he or she can still take part in the festival. Such opportunities as the tent crew, she explained, only take about two hours of work at the beginning and the end of the season. Other ways volunteers can offer their time to the festival include sales of calendars and tickets, clerical assistance at the festival office, helping organize the opening night gala, or helping with the Shakespearian gardens near the Kinsmen Amphitheatre. Assistance with lighting, painting and set construction is also needed.
As well, explained Lawn, experienced seamstresses are needed to assist with costume sewing, and the festival is still looking for "a couple of spots" to billet actors.
This year, the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival is presenting two productions: As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice. The festival is scheduled to run from Saturday, July 12 through Saturday, Aug. 16.
This 36-day run is the longest the festival has ever attempted.
While the extra week of performances does not necessarily mean more volunteers than last year will be needed, Lawn did state an increase in the number of volunteers means the work can be spread out more.
For more information, contact the festival office (now located 120 King St. E.) at 613-925-5788.
LEEDS AND GRENVILLE - Getting dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies is the most effective way of preventing human cases of the disease, according to the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.
The annual series of low-cost rabies shot clinics begins next week. The Prescott clinics will be held at the public works garage at the north end of Sophia Street next Wednesday, May 14 and the following Wednesday, May 21 from 2 to 6 pm. Clinics are also being held in Brockville, Kemptville and several other communities in the tri-counties area.
The health unit offers the clinics in association with local veterinarians and municipalities. Dogs and cats are required to be vaccinated.
Rabies is a contagious disease that affects the central nervous system. The potentially fatal disease is carried in saliva and can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches by infected animals. The virus can also be transmitted through open cuts or an infected animal's eyes, nose and mouth.
Vaccinating dogs and cats and not letting them roam free are measures to reduce the risk to pets and humans, as well as avoiding contact with unknown animals.
The low-cost clinics charge $15 for each animal. Dogs and cats are to be on a leash or in a carrier upon arrival at the clinics.
For more information on the rabies clinics or the disease, call 613-345-5685 or visit www.healthunit.org.
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